Inexplicably Unflappable

Uta had reached out to Wake in the recent past. "Something is fishy." Uta's chimlink started off. "I don't like it, I don't like it one bit, and we need to talk. This whole situation is tangled, and I need someone like you who plays in the big league to take over where I get lost." So, today, she has been trekking all the way to the appointed meeting place with the Baroness in the Land of Eas, be it a simple cottage in the village or a private office in the castle. It is a little touch, but she's made sure to show up in the new gi/nurse's uniform hybrid she's received as a gift from Wake for the Bonded Heart Festival.

    Wake is curious just what Uta has found. After a rather rough set of weeks, she is certainly interested in anything that might shed more light on the situation. Or more shadow. Either way, more is welcome.

    She takes her meetings in the village inn. There is no one working here. The Landers were long since evacuated. There's not much of comforts to be had here, but at least there's a stock of food and drink for those guarding the place to maintain their strength.

    "Well, we are certainly in the thick of it now," she murmurs to herself.

    Eas has changed just a little bit since Uta was last here. Rather obviously too. A wodden defensive wall has popped up, complete with wooden gate. Although it looks like it's still being worked on as various members of Olympus guilds are there, hammering and chopping and carrying things.

    And who do we have to blame for this? Who else? The evil Wooden Wall Fairy, of course!

    But really, Yuuki is clearly responsible. As evidenced by the fact that she can be seen directing the construction efforts even now. The recent fall of Shibuya has only encouraged her more to get this done. She would hate to see Eas go down as quickly. It would be a blight on the reputation of both Olympus and the Sleeping Knights!

    The lizardman with no home moves through the inn with a sort of rage behind everyone of his actions. His steps are a little harder, his tail bumps into things a little stronger, Rizadoman is not a happy lizardman as he sits in one of the larger chairs. "Again I appreciate allowing me to stay here while we deal with the Shibuya issue. " Yes that is all it was, an issue, nothing else.

"We are, Lady Bombast," Uta grumbles, the tips of her chopsticks temporarily resting in the middle of her portion of soba. Right in front of her is a tankard of -- water, it would appear.

She greets the Lizardman and shares some empathy about having been driven out of her place and being grateful to generous people who allow her to stay elsewhere. She then waits for the right moment between particularly loud hammerings at the wall outside, and continues, "I'm worried. Not only by current events, but even more by a lack thereof." She looks around at the convened people. "Didn't anyone else notice something that should be happening but isn't?"

Shiruba on the other hand has places she could go. Worse to worse she'd crash on Gwen's couch for a few days like she usually does when passing through Alne... But she's not really in the mindset to have to deal with Gwen's mother right now. So instead she had accompanied Rizadoman out to Eas, because there was still leader type things to be done. Even if she didn't feel like a very good leader right now. "An issue, yes... They likely picked Shibuya for their first big strike because it was easier to get to than Eas or anything Scale controls."

    "Certainly the people of your Alliance are welcome, my friend," Wake replies. "Though how long Eas shall stand is very much in doubt. I did not withdraw my people because I anticipated an easy victory here. We all sit on sand castles against a vastly more powerful foe. This is merely in the hopes of costing them more resources than it costs us. Fortunately, Yuuki's work is making it likely to be slightly more expensive than it would have been."

    No matter the gloomy words, Wake seems untroubled. "We cannot truly pretend to be surprised. We were thriving, growing, excelling. At that point in the story, the protagonists always face a terrible test of their will. They must lose, in order to be clearly set the stakes and assure the audience that the threat is real. The audience then starts to cheer for their heroes and the victory is ultimately satisfying."

    Wake turns her attention to Uta, arching an eyebrow. "There are many things not happening that I'd have wanted to occur. Which specifically are you referring to?"

    As her name comes up, Yuuki pops her head in through one of the inn's windows, "No way am I going to let them take this place without the fight of their lives!" Then she's gone again.

    Rizadoman hrmphs at Shiruba's comment, "If they had attacked the scales in their tower they would at least be able to be trapped inside and it would have dealt with several issues. " Standing up Rizadoman begins to dig through his inventory for a moment before withdrawing a bottle of prune juice and a cup. Pouring himself a cup of juice he begins to sip. Setting the cup down he looks back to the Baronness , " Yes in a story that is what commonly happens and this world may feel like it is built on stories, however I also can hear all the trouble it has brought the people. This will only be a story if we win." Then his eyes shift over to Yuuki and he raises his cup, "Here here." Finally he stands and moves to tower over Uta looking down at her before asking, "What is it you were saying we were missing?"

Shiruba just flops down in a chair with a grunt, leaning so her head drapes over the back of the chair. "I still don't understand why they are so hard set on this war that they won't come talk like reasonable people. This is clearly over more than that Wave and cultural differences."

Uta nods at Wake and Rizadoman in turn. "It would seem that we are, indeed, entering act II. The challenges are becoming personal now. It's a point of no return." Then she turns to Rizadoman specifically, "For some reason I ignore, Queen Laira Lorelei seemed terrified of going near the tower. Something about not being welcome there."

She looks down, slurps up some noodles, and takes her time to chew.

She then addresses Wake again: "I am nowhere as skilled as you in matters of State, but one thing I know for sure is, fighters from a foreign power gallivating around one's domain is, in all circles I am aware of, a clear act of aggression. The Palace Landers have been doing that for a while now. And I haven't noticed any response. Has there been any official statement? Any force deployed? At first I chalked it up to something super secret I'm not aware of involving the strange arrangement the Isle of Beginnings place has with the Travelers, but now... Shibuya... the Eastal Free League..." Uta leans over, hands clasped, head held low, and, after shifting her pupils left and right, she says, in a lower tone, "...granted, this is very recent, but- has there been any reaction from the League Council you people have heard of? A foreign power conducts military operations on their land. Has there been somethinh even as simple as a statement of surprise at their actions?"

    Yuuki pops her head in again, this time through a different window and with a wooden plank over her shoulder. To Shiruba she says, "Like Wake said, it's a story! But in theirs, they're the good guys and we're the bad guys. The good guys fight the bad guys! They probably don't care much more than that." Yuuki ducks out again, but not before accidentally knocking a chair over with the plank.

    Wake turns her attention to Rizadoman. "I appreciate you have strong philosophical differences with our people in the Scale Emblem. However, Prophylaxis is a dear friend and it is in Tolbana that the refugees of Eas are sheltered. I will not attempt to change your mind, but please speak no ill of my friends and allies in my presence. It is incredibly unproductive. We will need to work together, in lock-step, if we are to overcome our enemy. United, we are powerful indeed. Divided, we will fall."

    Uta's words are heeded and Wake nods thoughtfully. "Frankly, I do not expect any intervention unless they are directly threatened. The Dukedom, however, may put up resistance before Eas is reached. Frankly, if they are not in direct danger, I would prefer they not do so. That being said, it's unclear what the enemy truly intends. They operate under the belief that we damaged their homes. I was not aware of any such thing. Perhaps someone can correct me?"

Shiruba lifts her head to sit back up. "Other than the Wave, not that we are directly aware of. Unless they are blaming us for the barrier being down." Then shakes her head. "The scouting party that ambushed us to keep us away from helping Shibuya is the first direct confrontation I had, so I don't really know."

    Rizadoman looks at the Baroness and takes the chastisement before nodding his head. "You are right I am just ... disgruntled." He sips his warrior drink of prune juice as he sits back down looking at the cup. " The people of the land near us were willing to take in our non-combatants however thay did not seem to eager to help us further, " the lizardman can relate to what the Baroness says. "This is our problem, we are the cause we must be the solution."

    Yuuki comes walking down the stairs that lead up to the level above. There's a bag slung over her shoulder and it looks like it's filled with... Feathers?

    But as she walks past the group and towards the exit she suggests, "Maybe we should try capturing one of their Adventurers and pumping them for information! It's not like they aren't trying to capture us."

"It's the old story," Uta nods to Yuuki, "where Good and Evil are judged depending on whether or not one agrees with me."

She then sighs, takes a breath, thinks, and continues, "Wake. Let me put this straight. Imagine that you're back in your home country back on Earth. And that a foreign power sends their navy and army in full power to capture a massive number of their own citizens -on your country's territory-. Would your home country be all 'Oh, that's cool, it's an internal problem of that country' or would they be more like 'hold it there, buster, I don't care if it's a private matter, you sent your military on my territory, this is an act of aggression!'" Uta leans over again. "I've looked into it, this is an act of aggression." She sighs. "That is, assuming the two parties haven't -agreed- to it in advance."

Uta looks down and mumbles, "That's one point where I was hoping you could find out more."

Uta turns to Yuuki and squints. "What are those for? Are you looking for tar or something?" But after a little bit of silence, she concedes, "I suppose we could try, but the one I spoke with, Sheriff Shirin..." She squints at Baroness Wake. "I don't know, his ramblings made little to no sense to me."

    "I understand your frustration, my friend," says Wake gently, bowing her head. "But not all people of the Land will stand idly by. While Yuuki has toiled away here preparing a defense, I have been traveling the lands. The powerful may have too much to lose to stand up for their freedom, yet the downtrodden are waiting their chance for a better future. I have been from the Westelands to the shadows of the eastern forests. I have made new friends and forged an alliance, promising my service to those who will accept it."

    Wake smiles, though the expression bears a deep sadness mingled with its joy. "So you see, we are not alone. Deep will my debt to these people be, ere this great struggle is brought to its conclusion."

    Shifting her attention back to Uta, Wake ponders for a moment. "There is a key difference, I think, in this situation. First, I believe that only a few of the Landers here welcome us openly. Those in power have good reason not to. And who is to say that the enemy hasn't made agreements to depart once we are dealt with? Whether they would honor such things is a different matter. Also, is it not possible that other forms of manipulation might be brought into play here? I mean besides the sheer intimidation of the enemy's power. Not to even get into my suspicion that they all already know of each other. Potimus surely is a dear friend of King Gilgamesh. So yes, in a normal situation, there would be a much different reaction and the lack of such resistance is telling."

Shiruba gives a bit of a nod to Wake. "Good to know we're not without some support. Not that I can say I blame a lot of them for not wanting to get involved." She sighs, sitting forward to lean on the table. "It's kind of our own fault. We've let ourselves be painted as the big heroes that can handle any problem... and now they expect us to do just that."

    "The Kitsune I fought was also not very forth coming with information." Rizadoman adds to what Uta says about the Sheriff and then looks over at Yuuki who is heading out the door with feathers. "Don't go biting off more then you can chew. Out of all the meetings I have heard only one person has defeated one of these aggressors. " Taking a moment he turns his head to look atthe Baronness with an expression shouting 'Are you serious' which is hard to do with a lizardman face. " I recently visited the Temple of Law, they seemed a bit concern about the war I am surprised to hear the other people are so ok with this, or at least some of them." It was certainly a problem.

    Yuuki pauses mid-step as she is called out on the feathers. She blinks for a moment, looks at the bag over her shoulder and thinks. She then nods in agreement, "You're right, too obvious." She turns back, heading for the stairs upwards again, while mumbling to herself, "I think Akatsuki left a bag of her caltrops around somewhere the last time she was here..."

    Though on the way past again, Yuuki does add, "Or those in power here might be thinking that once we've worn the Palace Landers down, they can finish them off themselves. Claim all the credit and whatever concessions they might get from the Palace Lands." She disappears upstairs again.

Uta's lips tense. She clasps her hand, and one of her legs bounces nervously. "That is what I was afraid of. This might not the Palace Lands versus Yamato. This might be... worse. The powers of this area are neutral if not hostile towards us." She picks up her tankard, sips some water, and places the vessel down again. The ceramic thuds against the wood. "Culturally, though, Eastal -loves- Adventurers... if nothing is forthcoming from them soon..."

More silence. "Which brings me to my next worry. See, these Palace Land people have proved overwhelmingly crafty, thinking multiple steps ahead of us. I, and I suppose people far smarter than I, never saw any of this coming. So..." She taps the table with one finger. "At this point there would be one obvious move: each of us should retreat to our own Kingdom's root cities. I am sure you have heard of the Guardian system. If an outsider will attempt to attack a citizen of that kingdom within a root city, a Guardian will teleport in and slay them immediately. That sounds... far too good to be true in this war. The Palace Landers are dang crafty schemers, and for some reason, seem not only well versed, but explicitly exploiting Adventurer logic. I fear that this is exactly the move they want us to make, somehow, and that it's going to be some sort of trap for us." She bites her lower lip again, and squint, "Even if I can't for the life of me imagine what the issue would be..."

    The Baroness nods deeply to Shiruba. "Indeed, it is encouraging, is it not? Yet those who will help us have no grand armies. They are good people who have been living on the fringe of society, many before even the Cursed Wave bound us here. Each brings something of value but all need help in turn. An ideal situation, I would say."
    "As for seeing us as the solution to all issues, some Landers do that. I would suggest that Lander leaders have a more nuanced view of who we are. And it could be that they will fight. We should not race to conclusions just yet. The Dukedom has not been attacked yet. But you have to understand, the Dukedom is not perfectly united. An outside force could make many deals that would put one Duke above another. These are not nations as we knew them away from this place. Power is not so unified, communication and defense not so easy. We shouldn't judge prematurely. I haven't directly engaged the Dukes. I still have some hope that their paranoia and inability to trust each other or anyone else will bind them together before the end. Yet part of me wonders if it is wise that I should wish that. How many of them will perish in this battle?"

    The Baroness stretches and lets out a sigh. She's weary, but no debuffs have impacted her yet.

    "To retreat to the Root Cities would be idiocy on a grand scale, yes. We win this fight by being small, mobile. We do not try to win huge, pitched battles. We strike hard where they are weak and never let them rest. If the Landers aid them, well, then we may have to act in rather dreadful fashion. It is imperative that the enemy be forced to maintain long supply lines. They must be put in a position where they fight a battle across the sea."

    There's the sound of running. Then Yuuki bursts out of a hatch leading into the inn's cellar. She quickly raises a finger, "Objection, your honour!" She crosses her arms firmly, "Retreat wholesale like that is a bad, bad, bad idea! It sends the wrong message, to both friend and foe alike! That we'll back down at even the the slightest provocation! That's definitely not good. It'll just invite more people to bully us. And ruin our reputation as Adventurers too!"

    Yuuki nods along in knowing agreement with Wake.

Shiruba tilts her head to Riza. "Is that the same one that Estelle and Giganpor said they fought as well?"

Then holds up a finger of her own. "You both have fair points. We can't fight them directly on size... we need to find ways to be more clever than they are. Things that they -wouldn't- be expecting us to do." Then puts her hand to her chin. "There is still the whole 'Uncrowned' thing from that note we found, too. What does that mean?"

Uta propse her chin up with one hand. Thinks long and hard at Yuuki's suggestion. "Do you think we have a Russia for them to invad- wait, no. It's not winter. Dang."

    Rizadoman looks at the crew and considers for a moment the situation. "Perhaps there is a silver lining with them taking Shibuya." The words sound weird coming out of his mouth but he said them. Looking over at Shiruba he expands a little, " Our biggest problem up to this point has been we haven't known where they will be. Now we do. We have a point to attack. We have a location to find boats to steal. " There is a renewed vigor in his voice as he stands, "We have a target to we can push for. " Looking over at Yuuki he adds, " I agree with Yuuki, retreating doesn't feel like the best move. I also agree with Uta that it feels like a quick way to trap us. " Taking another sip of his prune juice he contemplates his new idea.

Uta shrugs at Shiruba. "My guess about what the whole 'Uncrowned' thing means is as good as yours. Nobody I've discussed the issue with seemed to have the foggiest idea about that. Except, that is, form wild and / or obvious guesses." Uta sighs, "In any case, if anyone needs me to Loremaster anything, let me know. If nothing, I can at least try and provide some intelligence, even if my abilities probably pale when compared to Queen Laira Lorelei's..." and scarfs down another mouthful of soba. "I'll let you folks figure the rest out. I'm not sure I'd be any good at this whole 'things nobody expects' deal."

    "We need not win the battles, we need only not lose our armies," replies Wake. She traces a fingertip across the back of her hand. "It's like the American Revolution, the Soviet Invasion of Afganistan, or the Vietnam War. You find ways to get in the enemy's head. You bring your enemy fear. You make it about occupation and insurgency."

    Wake looks up, smiling in earnest, "You win the populace, denying them the support of the people. I have decided.. I will not fight scorched earth. No land that can help the people is to be destroyed. My people will always conduct themselves with respect for the non-combatants. And you see the point well, Rizadoman. Territory does not bring them any closer to victory. It only spreads them more thin. It burdens them with something worthless to defend. A liability."

    Rizadoman looks at Wake, "Thats not fully true. At the moment it gives them a place to stage from here. No longer needing a week long trip for supplies. It is also a demoralizing blow to have the home taken. If it wasn't you would walk away from this land instead of fight for it. " There is a pause as he looks around, "However it can also give us a reason to fight harder. So now that I have sat here licking my wounds I will have to begin to rally our forces to take our home back."

Shiruba raises her hands to rub her temples. "I am a hunter of monsters and rogues. I know nothing of the strategy of actual warfare. Just raid tactics nad dungeon delving. I.. am not even really sure what to do at this point? Yes, the Silver Swords are our Alliances' combat guild... but we've never thought to be fighting something like this. On this magnitude. We were strained just finding ways to deal with the Forgotten Army of Undead."

    "Remember that they are stuck wanting to hold that place and you are now free to fight where and how you wish. And as you say, fighting here is more symbolic than meaningful. It's a chance to exact a price from our attacker. Do not feel you have lost your home. Home is not a place, it is a people, it is sense of belonging. This land will be taken, I have little reason to doubt that. But the nation of Eas lives on and my home can never be taken."

    The Baroness sighs softly. "And yes, I understand what you mean, Shiruba. Few of us have experience in these things. I have long wondered if I would find others involved in military affairs here. Yet I never anticipated that something so very textbook would arise. I imagined instead that the Alliances would splinter and fall into conflict. Regardless, I assure you, we are not all inexperienced in armed conflict."

    Rizadoman looks at Shiruba and nods his head, " I understand, even as a simple lizardman from the village I am not trained in this either. I only know what I have read. However that does not mean we can not use what we know as long as we think of it from a different point of view. I am going to put my thoughts into words. Just think of it as preparing for a new raid. The newly formed Shibuya Raid." With that Rizadoman takes his cup and his bottle of prune juice and retires back up to his inn room. He has thoughts to put to paper.

Shiruba lifts her head as Wake says that. "... You raise a good point. We've lost a home for the time being... but not who we are or the ideals that brought us to stand together." Then slouches back in her seat. "I think I need a nap before I try to think too deeply about it though."

She -does- know a few people with previous military connections though. Hmmmm...

    "Rest, then, and when you rise again I hope you find clarity. I have much to do yet, many messages to send and preparations to make. And always, my friends, you can call on me for aid."

    Wake rises and glides into her usual, deep curtsey, her head bowed. Somehow she is able to add even more grace to it.

    "Do not be afraid. Be focused and fill your mind with hope for the future. A day will come when we will look back on this and remember how much stronger and better we became."

    The Baroness rises and departs, wearing a calm smile. She has to see what Yuuki is up to with these defenses.