Decisions made: Wildcat Invasion!

     Doing things out of anger was a poor decision. But... Pela had had time to /stew/ on things. Think on them. On the boat ride from Shibuya to Alne. And the short amount of travel there. Far from the original plan she'd had to tell them the rumors that she'd heard, she had decided to, instead, go for a much less... unpleasant route. Regardless, it involved attempting to make contact with the Scale Emblem Alliance. Which meant going to Alne, the only place she knew of one of their bases to be.
     And so at the entrance to the Scale Emblem Alliance was a small maid, who was hesitating at the entrance to it. Sure, the bravado, the anger had /gotten/ her there, but it wasn't quite the same as just /invading another alliance's HQ/. You don't just do that and get off scott free! ... ... And yet here she was. She takes a deep breath, before beginning to make her way through that entrance, ears perked as she listens intently and carefully for any signs of immediate aggression or anything.
     For whatever reason, she was carrying a broom. Possibly out of habit, since that was her main method of stealth was just... trying to make it look like she fit in there. .o(Aaaa what are you actually doing Pela? At best this possibly gets you tied up with the tower that you had already decided you weren't interested in, at worst it could possibly cause even /more/ friction between alliances!!!)o.
     ...Yeah there was a bit of distress on the cat's face. A pokerface she did not have.

    Merek came for only one reason, and that was to find what Pela was going to do. The man arrives, although it looks like the woman already made it to the SEA HQ. The man looks up then he states to himself, "She is going to begin a war," he mentions. The man places the cavalier hat to his features, his cape shifting about while he follows the woman into the HQ.

    Timing would just so have it that at this moment, Amalthea is returning to Castle Reach from business that has had her elsewhere only to come to the main gate and...
    What is this?
    Though she's clad in black armor, trimmed in gold, the old Odysseia knight puts on a warm smile as she approaches the entrance to the old castle and finds two faces she had not expected to see. One she knows, the other she does not.
    "Is something troubling you?" She asks when she sees the tense, distressed, look on Pela's face, before her brow arches.
    "And Merek, you're here as well." She says.
    "I suppose it's not every day that Castle Reach has visitors. Did you have some business with the Scale Emblem Alliance?"

     Oh no. A war? Nope! Absolutely not Pela's intentions. Not at all. Now, if it ended up being that... is a different matter entirely. No actually right now it seemed like her social anxiety was going to take over instead, beginning to sweep a random corner nearby the doorway as she shuffles uncomfortably. Diplomacy is hard when you have to interact with people! It's probably why she didn't have any skill points in it.
    Aaaand she was spotted almost immediately, before she could even fully settle into her 'I totally belong here don't mind me' routine. The approach of Amalthea was mostly unnoticed... until she spoke up of course. A soft squeak escapes the wildcat's lips as she takes a deep breath. Okay. Okay. You came here for a reason. Come on. You can do it. "..." She turns towards Amalthea, "I..." ... ... .. "...Heard... about... the goblins..." She mumbles, forcing out an almost proper sentence, and shes' not even fumbling over her words much. "...Unfond... of hearing about... deaths... offer help..." Well, maybe Merek's worries weren't warranted. It seems Pela's too shy to actually tell any real details.

    "Ah," Merek muses when he comes upon Amalthea and with Pela, then he nods a bit to the woman. "We came to offer assistance with the goblins, considering we worked along with the goblin slayer," he notes. The man smiles a bit.

    Wisteria pokes her her head out of the gate entrance, she was about to start training and that happens often in the clear space before the gate. "Busy..." she says blinking not really expecting people out front. The tall albino girl is dressed without her armor, which is sitting in a work room currently absorbing the most recent round of enchanting.

    "Ah. Yes, the goblins." Amalthea replies, after a moment of piecing together Pela's mumbling. Her lips purse into a thin line. Those damned goblins have been killing veteran members of the Scale Emblem and are being a huge hassle on the 5th floor of Aincrad.
    Right now, Amalthea is willing to take any help she can get.
    "Well, let's not stand in the doorway and talk about this, come on in, come on in." She says, pushing into the castle doorway, and motioning the pair to follow her inside. Just as she spots Wisteria, at least. "Ah, Wisteria, were you busy? Care to join us?" She asks her fellow Odysseia Knight before heading past the entrance foyer she guides the pair down a series of halls into a small meeting room.
    "Can I get you anything while you're here? Tea? Something to snack on? I can't make anything myself, but we keep a cook on duty for those of us who can't."

     Apparently Pela's 'spot' checks had been failing rather heavily, as Merek was suddenly there too! Talking along with her! Helping to explain the situation! ... Kind of. ... Pela turned one of her eyes towards him silently, looking over him quietly. Was he sent to keep an eye on her? ... Probably. Still, in spite of ... things ... that had happened with him, he hadn't ever treated her poorly. "...What he said." She murmurs with a firm nod.
     And... yet another person poked up behind her, entering as well. Well. Pela should have expected this and attempted to set up a private meeting or something, instead of just walking up to a base. "...Hi." She says towards the tall albino girl, giving a little nod towards her. "...Sorry. ...Disrupting?" Aaaa how to person??? And then... luckily, business drew her attention back to it. Okay good. She could handle business.
     The invitation to come in gets a small nod from Pela, and she begins to do just that, slipping in quietly and following after Amalthea, she quietly unequips that broom, putting it back into her inventory. Why did she even have that broom? Okay. These people were good at least, it seems. As they walked through the hallways and eventually made it to that meeting room, she does her best to make note of the ways they turned and similar. "...Tea would be nice. ...I have snacks." Pela says softly, looking around the meeting room. If there was a seat, she would move to take it. Probably looking like a child sitting in a chair totally didn't help the seriousness of her intent, but she was resolute! "...Not a fan of tower climbing. Seems to cause problems... but... death... isn't good, either. ...I want to help."

    Wisteria smiles "Yah sure, I was just going to get some cuts in while my most recent reagent catalyzes." She puts her sword back into inventory to join the procession. "Yah the goblins have been a real issue." she says.

    Merek seems to think about it, looking to Pela with a nod, while he takes a moment to think about that offer, "I will take a tea," he mentions, while he begins to adjust his potion belt.

    "Alright, wait right here." Amalthea says before stepping out. She has no reason to believe the pair would go anywhere, plus Wisteria can keep an eye on them for a minute or two anyway.
    It's not long before the old Paladin returns with a tray containing a teapot and several cups, which she sets down on a table and begins to pour. A cup for Pela, a cup for Merek, one for Wisteria, and one for herself. There are, in fact, seats too.
    "Now then... First of all, my name is Amalthea. I am the current co-leader of the Odysseia Knights, directly under our guild leader, Gardenia." This introduction is mainly for Pela's sake, who she has not met until just now; Merek and Wisteria she knows full well enough.
    "It's true, the goblins have been giving us... problems in the tower since the last boss fight. I'll not turn away any offers of help."

     Reagents? Ooh. That actually had Pela's interest, her ears perking as she looks towards Wisteria. "Reagents? Potions? ... Enchanting? ...Interested. ...I am Pela. ... Have you gotten a copy of my book? Trying to get it distributed everywhere." She says, reaching into her inventory briefly and pulling out... a well-bound and written little paperback book, a certain book of herbs that she'd written while in her State. If Wisteria gave a negative response about having the book she would immediately hold it out towards her. She'd made the book so people could use it, after all!
     Merek gets a bit of a Look though, as he seemed to just be ... there. Listening, and adjusting his potion belt a bit. She honestly somewhat wanted to say more to Amalthea, but... Merek being there... she just looks back towards Amalthea, quietly musing on what she was willing to say.
     Amalthea was right! At least about Pela. She didn't go anywhere. In fact beyond attempting to pawn a book off on Wisteria, she was just staying in that chair she'd claimed, absently kicking her legs a bit.
     When Amalthea came back and introduced herself... Pela gives a small bow towards her. "...Pela Clarpuff. ... Solo player affiliated with the Silver Swords." She says softly. She takes a deep breath as she quietly closes her eyes, thinking a few long moments on what she says next, before continuing, "...I honestly am coming here because I was upset by things I heard. Talk of apathy about your problem. ... I do not come representing my alliance. ...If this is our world, the tower is part of it too. ...If there is a tower problem, it's an everyone problem. ... I want to help." Oh yeah that's a good way to probably give Merek a heart attack and a half.

     "...Not /everyone/ believes that, though. That's not a New World Alliance stance." Pela adds.

    Merek looks between the three of the women, and nods a bit to that. "I agree, I am willing to assist. I don't agree with the SEA a lot, all the same I wish to do what I can to protect all of the people," he mentions.

    Wistera smiles, her pale lips exposing normal human teeth. "I don't think I have a copy." she says "I'm working enchantments into my new armor." she says "Currently it's waiting for the magic to solidify with one of the reagents yes." she says softly and shrugs. "It will be my best enchantment yet I think, the armor was special made all from monster drop rewards." she nods her head to herself. "Help is something it looks like we'll need now and in the future." she says "That's why I'm working on studying and improving enchantments... my kendo skills will only take me so far even combined with my class... but Shadow is mostly an Enchanter class we just blend sword and wave arts sooo I think that if I want to end up as more than just a support class on the sidelines I need to make myself better gear."

    Amalthea glances to the book, arching a brow as Pela produces a copy, but then introductions are returned and the old Paladin settles into a seat.
    "Things you've heard?" She questions mildly, blowing on her tea to cool it down a bit before taking a slow sip. But then she dips her head in a nod.
    "Unfortunately, the tower is a problem, and the Waves that follow every boss battle make it everyone's problem yes." She agrees. "And like I said, I will not turn away any help you, or anyone else has to offer."
    

     Pela just... nods towards Merek. Phew. He just agreed with her. She probably put it diplomatically enough! Maybe. Probably. She wasn't sure. "...I don't disagree with the SEA. ... People should have freedom if they want. ...Some people have things to go home to." She murmurs towards Merek. "...I don't, really, but some do."
     Wisteria gets a small nod. "...Well take that one. It's most of the overworld herb locations that I could find. ...Probably lacks seasonal, event, rare herbs, but has commons. Most uncommons." Pela flashes a smile towards Wisteria. "...Might help." She murmurs. If the goblins were going to be armed with weapons, she could at least do what she could to arm the SEA with knowledge that they might not already know. After all, she was the Novasphere Pioneer of Herbalism! ... Unknown Novasphere Pioneer of Herbalism, but it still counts. "...Maybe we could spar sometime." She says towards Wisteria. Though probably she could learn more from Wisteria than the other way around.
     Hmm. the book hadn't spread as far as she'd hoped it would, seeing Amalthea's look and arched brow. Maybe she'll have to acquire a small gift of them for the SEA. "...Just comments on chimlinks, nothing like... official notifications or anything. ...I don't intend to cause problems so I will not say names." Pela responds gently to Amalthea. She bites her lip softly. "...I, uhm. ... Well! ...I'll help as much as I can. I'm a Twin Blade and Enchanter, so ... decent in most roles. ...Just, uhm. ..." She opens her menu, sending a friend request to Wisteria and Amalthea. "...I'll do what I can to be there for any attempts to push back the goblins."

    Merek looks then to Pela and nods a bit, while he takes a moment to consider with a nod along to Amalthea. "Anyway, we plan to do what we can for you," the man notes while he watches the place.

    Wisteria will pick the book up to start going through it. Most of her enchantments don't need herbs but there are always some of the earth and poison spells she might want them for.

    Another slow sip on her tea and Amalthea nods.
    "I won't ask you to say anything that would put someone else on the spot." She says gently, but then dips her head in a nod. "That's fine then. If the two of you are more willing to help, then I'll take it at face value." She says.
    "I can understand that not everyone agrees with the values of the Scale Emblem Alliance... And at the same time I can see that this world simply isn't a game anymore. The Landers are becoming more and more like people every day. This really is a new world and I can see that there are those who would want to stay here." She states understandingly. "But you are correct. I, like many others, am someone who has something to return to. And that's why we fight tooth and nail to climb up the tower. The goblins are certainly an issue but who are we to know what will come next? It's why I think we should work together rather than fight amongst ourselves."

     So things seemed... mostly.. okay with Merek. Okay. He hadn't seemed to decide to run off and immediately report her or anything at least. She gives a slow exhale and nods. "Yes." She says in agreement to Merek. She seemed content to let Wisteria leaf through the book. It was detailed, gave descriptions of the area each herb can be find, and common uses for it, with even notes of possible alternate uses for a lot of the herbs, as well as some real world equivalents when it's something strange or weird.
     "...Thank you." Pela says softly in response to Amalthea, dipping her head into a bow towards her.
     She falls silent though, listening as Amalthea talks. "...Yes. ...I honestly am loving this world. ... The waves of Calamity jeapardize it... so ... I have mixed feelings. ...But... yes. It's everyone's problem. We should work together... the waves can be managed so long as they don't end up doubling up again... the forest near Shibuya is suffering because of it." She says with a slight frown at that. Her poor forest. "...If... maybe... we could.... coordinate. So we had more chance to prepare for waves..."

    "Well, we know about the Travelers," Merek mentions, nodding a bit. "It seems that there is a lot to think about besides all of the Tower," he notes. The man looks to Amalthea, "We are willing to assist SEA along with the goblins, we can even assist with the Tower when that would be safe," he then admits. "We just, both noticed a lot of the tension. I think it would be beneficial if we all work together."

    Wisteria closes the book "Thank you, this is sure to be helpful, if not directly to me then perhaps Doc will find even more use from it." she says with a bow to Pela.

    Setting her cup down, Amalthea purses her lips again.
    "Perhaps some better coordination would smooth things out. I'll see what I can do with the higher ups." She says. "But I agree, working with one another is far more preferable to all the squabbling."

     Merek talked about things.... Pela didn't really know much about, so she opted not to really comment much on it, though she does give an agreeing nod with Merek. "...It's unnecessary. ...Lack of communication, I think." She says with a firm nod. And then she smiles towards Wisteria. "...They are for sale for cheap with merchants making the rounds... tried to make it so it would be easy for everyone to get the information." Pela finally... stands up from that chair again, dipping into a polite curtsy towards Amalthea. "...Thank you very much for listening. ... ... I don't really represent The NWA. ...But... ... problems... cannot be solved, if unknown." She murmurs, then quickly drinks her nearly-forgotten tea, leaving a few travel breads on the table in its wake; breads with a mixture of fruits and nuts inside, good for when you're out and about on long journeys. And then... she would begin to make her way back out. Probably. Assuming the SEA's base isn't a confusing maze of corridors.

    Merek nods a little bit to everyone, and looks along to the place, "Alright, you all be well."

    Wisteria smiles at Pela and nods her head."We are all glad to have work among us all." she says "Some of us desire to go home but we do not wish to harm others in the process."