Eas Regrouping

It hadn't taken long for word to spread of Shibuya's liberation from the Palace Land occupation. Which was certainly worth celebrating. But it wasn't all fun and games, because most likely the enemy was regathering their forces in the city they still occupied, putting them within reach of threatening Eas once more. So now the young nation had to prepare for another potential siege. Which would require work, and resources.

Which was why Kauchemar was standing outside of Olympus' Eas headquarters, chatting with some members who were actually trained in Mining and Metalworking. A map of Olympus' coal mine was spread open on a table between them, with a big red circle off to one side. "That's the area the metal ore was found in. But the mine will have to be expanded to access fully. So we should get it checked out by some actual miners to see how to do so." A pause. "And to make sure the mine is properly defended if our unwanted neighbors decide to peak over the proverbial fence."

What looks like a large mole sits at their feet, gnawing on a piece of scrap armor.

Jazz is staring at the mole. Just staring.

She lets out a breath, adding, "I'm only sorry I couldn't get to Shibuya in time to help," she mutters. Ah well. She's here in Eas, for now, and she can lend her efforts here, suc has they are.

She's leaning over the map, though, tracing a finger on it. "Hm. Amateurs," she mutters, a little bit of faux-condescencion in her voice. That said, she can do it quite well.

"Much as I don't love coal's stink being pumped into the air, it has its uses -- which makes me wonder if that could be used to disrupt them. That is, to say, pumping coal smog into their camp, or over their army when it arrives."

"Yes." Kauchemar doesn't bother looking offended at the amateurs remark, because it was pretty much true. "That's why," she jabs a thumb sideways at the other two miners, "I'm getting the second opinion of professional prospectors."

"Though.. uh.." One comments as he rubs his head. "Neither of us actually make maps either. But we can see what kinda rock and such we're dealing with to know what we'll need to expand that section... if the war doesn't take up all our manpower, of course."

"Of course." Then Kauchemar tilts her head at Jazu. "Not to mention the fumes can be a bit aggrivating even if the smoke isn't thick. Coal mines aren't exactly pleasant to breath."

"Makes sense. I'm happy to go alond and help expand the map," muses Jazu, scratching her chin. Her tentacle tips curl as she leans forward to inspect it a moment more, then adds as she turns back to Kauchemar, "Yeah. It's a pollutant, after all, and unsafe. Black Lung was a thing back home. I wonder if we could weaponize a black lung debuff? I'm already working on a way to weaponize under water pressure in the short term.."

She is clearly mullin this over at this point.

"We'd appreciate someone coming by later to compile the survey info, miss." The two miners start gathering their gear back up so they can get going. "Of course we won't make any actual changes until the alliance heads approve it."

"Of course not," Kauchemar replies with a nod. "But they have their hands full as it is, so the more information we have prepared for that point, the better. Thank you."

Then turns her attention back to Jazu. "Might qualify as Alchemy. Some combination of Earth, Air, and maybe even Darkness for the debilitation. You know this world is going to try and take something like 'black' lung literally."

    Elly has had much on her mind. Which lends itself to walking. A lot of walking. Trying to avoid the attention of the many lander guards, she has gone towards the Olympus HQ. Besides, paperwork awaits!

    It is a good excuse to take a break from the puzzle that has been bothering her.

"More than likely. I do have some skill in alchemy though I'm not an expert. Why don't we put our heads together and see what we can figure out?"

She spots Wake, pauses, and then lifts a hand in muted greeting. That's our Jazz. She's never one for too many words.

"You likely know more than I do." Kauchemar stoops down to scoop the pug sized Rock Mole up in her arm. Pats him on the head with her other hand. "I am glad this whole venture in training monsters to help prospect produced some profitable results." When Jazu waves she turns her head to see who at, and then gives a wave of her own. "Hello Elly." As usual the nightmare has no shortage of words, she'll make up for Jazu's lack of conversation easily. "Still trying to sort out your thoughts?"

    "Yes. And no. I know what must be done. I simply cannot see how to do it. Also I think I had best stop this thinking. I must trust the Goddess. The solution shall come in time."

    She glides into her usual curtsey, then. "I hope you are both doing well. Is there any news?"

Kauchemar nods in the direction of the two departing miners. "I was just getting the help of some of our actual mining professionals to check out that offshoot of the coal mine that my moles found the metal ore deposits in. To see how much work it will potentially take to expand it before we pitch the proposition to the alliance leadership. Don't want to spread ourselves out too far, especially with the enemy still being unruly neighbors."

    Elly rises and looks at the Nightmare curiously. "I think that may prove a worthwhile time investment even with our unruly neighbors."

    She's clearly a bit distracted. She looks off towards the horizon for a time. "I wonder.. is the war almost over? How does it end?"

    

Jazz eyes Wake a moment, then lets out a breath. She puts a hand to the back of her head, hair wafting slowly behind her as she moves a step back from the map and the prospectors. Jazz likes her space between her and other people. "And I was just talking about a way to weaponize coal fumes, and helping to better map the mine," she explains, "not that I love you even hve a coal mine, like I said earlier." She doesn't much like it, nose wrinkling. It just makes her look more cutesy-wutesy-anime-twee... disapprovingly, of course, but still.

It's winter, Gwen's in that reather interesing Heavy Blade outfit she loves so much. She is somehow not bothered by the weather at the moment. She's bouncing in place as she comes out of the HQ, seriously the towering woman looks like she just stepped off the cover of Heavy Metal. She would speak up "Hey! Good god Coal fires can be a nightmare..."

"Yes, but if there is one thing I've learned from you, it's to be thorough. More information means easier to convince people." Kauchemar waggles a finger in Wake's direction. "Trust me, I've tried. But even the power of Oracle can't forsee a definite point for conclusion." She pauses a moment. "And maybe it's better that way. People might not be willing to put the effort in if they think it's predestined."

Once the map and such has been cleared up she sets the rock mole on the tabletop. "These guys didn't seem to be too bothered by the potential fumes though." Oh, there's Gwen too. "Yes, and Jazu is talking about making them a nightmare for the enemy."

    "Thorough. I will manage that. But if I dont keep my promises-all of them-this may be no victory at all. It would just a delay."

    Noticing Jazz's dislike of coal, Elly sighs. "I share your dislike of it. Until we can create something better, we may be stuck with it. But.."

    She pauses, then smiles. "I hate to run. I received a most intriguing chim link. Which requires promp action. Sadly, I must postpone my exciting date with alliance paperwork." And with a guilty smile, she heads back to the castle.

Gwen says "Heh that be a thing give the Palace Land coal fires to deal with. Wouldn't it?" She wave to the Baroness as she heads out and turns back to Jazz and Kau. "So now what?"

"Was thinking about black lung. Imagine draping their camp with coal smoke," explains Jazz, "and then marching in in the middle of the night while they're debilitated right aft er. Think of it like Vlad Tepes storming the Turks camp in the middle of the night. Kill a few of their important leaders, get out."

She shrugs her shoulders, glancing towards Gwen.

"Well -that- is quite the visual reference. And I'm suppose to be the nightmarish one." Kauchemar taps her chin with a finger. "But that's only going to work for their military camps. No lobbing burning coal into Mac Anu where it might also harm the native Landers there. We don't want to make our own people all sick."

Gwen ahs "So going full world war one more or les in terms of tactis? Aye we don't want to harm the people of Mac Annu. Still we could use it against fortfications they have in the Palace Lands themselves." She leans back a bit and she looks to Jaz shrugging back. "Oh for my hunting rifle these days I admit..." Wait Hunting rifle?

Jazuhanzu turns towards Kauchemar and addresses her soberly, "No greater nightmare than what's already in human history, Kauchemar," She's dreadfully sincere about that, it seems She turns back to Gwen and adds, "No, these tactics are way older than that, much older." She does nod towards Gwen. "Smoke them out. Small coal-smoke grenades could be fashioned to force them out of fortified positions. I was already thinking that myself. Rifles? Already?" She lets out a sigh.

"...shouldn't be in such a hurry to bring the old world back."

"Who needs guns when you can throw fireballs and lightning bolts at people?" Kauchemar picks up her rock mole, and turns to wander around towards the back of HQ. "I better go pen this guy up with the rest of the horde before he decides Gwen's flashy armor looks like a snack."

Gwen says "No we shouldn't I don't think the world would be ready for how Earth fights. It's not a game it's the seeking the total annhilation of the other and thats something I do not think they understand." She sighs. "I don't like thinking and she looks. "Yes rifles, My dad and I would hunt. Sides there were thinks that needed shooting sometimes like Cyotes. Why would I want it? So I could snipe the bastards that did this rather than perhaps have to cut our way through conscript... you know humm that's an idea if we can find a way to take out the leadership..." Gwen trails off but frowns. "I don't like thinking like this."

"Lander casualties should be avoided at all costs," murmurs Jazz, "Cut off the crowns and we'll all be better off." She lets out a breath, glancing down towards her feet in dismay.

Gwen looks at Jazz. She goes silent for a moment. "I think on that note I best get going. That way of thinking could bite is bad the ones who did it can't be left be. Not with how much blood they have." With that Gwen turns and goes, she didn't even try to put Jazz in any clothing either.