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“Iron Soul.” Smiling at the praise of the merc Iron straightens up a little. “Yea but it was more or less necessary, your archers were a better shot than most of ours.” His statement was more to pay back the compliment the Kitsune did not really focus too much on archery. “Well our information as to how much you had was incorrect, and my father despised slavery.”

As a server comes over Iron looks up and thinks for a moment. “Rice, some salmon if you have it but mackerel will be fine if you do not, aaaand some sake.”

Turning back to the man. “It is a shame but from what I have managed to hear the Realm is none to happy with the Silver Blade since they lost a few particular valuable pieces of payment.” Iron Soul taps his sword as he speaks and then stands up. “Well I should probably go and be a bit more personal with others. I do hope to have you by my side on the field one day.”

Standing up he takes a look around for a moment before walking forward to Akhil. “Brother. It is nice to see that I am not the only of us to take on another of the chosen.”

Ahkil kneels to level himself with the servant child and places a hand on the boy's shoulder. "As an honored guest I have been offered my pick of a food, but what do I learn from that?" He pauses as the boy struggles to think through the question, then continues, "Fill a plate with the finest food available and take it for yourself. After your work here is complete, bring me your rations, whatever they may be. Through this simple act we will gain insight into each other's lives, and we shall be the wiser." As the boy hurries off Akhil shouts a parting word meant for all to hear,"Do not forget this lesson, every moment is an opportunity for reflection!"



"Indeed, however, I'm afraid your choice of words does not befit me. It is not yet clear whether the Bull must be 'taken on', or simply led away from his warlike and selfish ways. I only hope that each member of this resistance has the strength to keep their weapons sheathed until such time as they are necessary." Akhil does not hide a long glance at the towering Daiklave. "Wouldn't you agree, brother?"

Sasha seems content to stay in one corner, some bread and cheese in one hand, and feeding Renaldo some fish with the other. Her flute appears to have disappeared into a pocket of her coat, though no-one can remember seeing her put it away.
For that matter, neither can anyone remember exactly who it was offered her the food.

'Mmm, that's more like it.'
"I'm glad you like it, Renaldo."

Akhil returns his gaze directly to Iron Soul's eyes as he listens.

"You are correct that now is not the time for military action. But suppose an allied army was suddenly conjured before us, ready for battle. Would it then be the proper time for war? Have you considered the implications of such an engagement for the denizens of this land?", says Akhil gesturing with his palms in front of him, turned skyward to represent Rokan-Jin.

"Forgive me for being presumptive, but you strike me as someone who has been a fighter for a long time. Such a life surely has bestowed upon you an spectacular resilience to hardship. I must inform you, however, that such a resilience is not typical, and that every level of society, from the peasantry to the royalty, of Rokan-Jin and its neighbors would be disrupted, displaced, or destroyed by such a conflict. Repairs have hardly begun since the last one. What I am saying is that another war, particularly one involving the Bull may leave this land a barely inhabited pile of rubble."

Feeling that he has spoken too loudly, and not wishing to demoralize anyone at the gathering, Akhil folds his hands together lowers his voice. (Though, anyone not currently engaged in a conversation or sufficiently far away as to have noises lost in the bustle of the meeting place could probably still hear what is being said.)

"Thus, it is precisely my goal to achieve victory with as little open conflict as possible. Indeed, prepare the army, for there may be a time and a place. But if we do find ourselves on the battlefield and you hear the clash of blades, know that you are hearing the dying breath of diplomacy. And if you smell blood, know that it is the blood of the land."

"Thank you, but I'd say that I speak simply. Unlike Jasper," the Colonel waves dismissively in the ambassador's direction, "I don't have time or energy to waste on making things pretty."

"Everyone wants to romanticize our situation. They say we're plucky rebels, striking from hidden bases, striving for our freedom. Me, I say we're just another bunch of people who lost a war, but aren't ready to be assimilated yet. Whether its right or wrong, I just don't want to give up the kind of life we used to have."

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Hidden Jasper presses on towards Sasha, interrupted now and again by some Resistance member needing his attention or wishing to share their thoughts. Finally, he escapes them and finds himself before her in the corner.

"Er... I apologize for intruding on your solitude. I don't suppose you remember me..." He trails off in nervous embarrassment, then takes a deep breath. "Whatever it was I did to earn your ire when I was in Whitefall, I am deeply sorry. I'm sure the money went to a good cause."

He looks up to see both the girl and her cat watching him with wide eyes. "I thought you stole... Or at least, I assumed it was the Requiem in Moonlight that everyone had been talking about." He seems even more embarrassed. "Or was that not you?"

For Sailor Saturn: >>> Just a conversation hook if you want it. Jasper was an ambassador to Whitefall, and stayed there until just over a year ago. He was still fairly rich and arrogant, even after Rokan-Jin was captured, so he might have been one of Sasha's targets. Or not. I leave it up to you. <<<

Iron raises a hand and hardily smacks Akhil upon the shoulders. "You are better with words than I could ever be, and no doubt great at inspiring people and have a strong sense of morals and ideals. You will be very useful here. I will remember your words if you remember these. Nothing in creation can be maintained without military might. Rokan-Jin learned this lesson the hard way, when the Bull came upon them.” Taking a deep breath and a short exhale, “now if you will excuse me need to go and work out a few details, of an idea.”

Smiling to himself he walks off to a nearby table and pulls out a wax tablet and proceeds to write up some plans and basic designs. As he sits there working his food is brought to him. Picking up the fish by hand he quickly eats it, and ignores the rice and sake for the moment, apparently embroiled in the idea that came to him.

"Oh, well, th-that's wonderful! I'm glad I could be of help. Perhaps in time, once we have trade ties with Whitewall again, we might be able to set aside some funding to, uh, purchase more such necessities."

Jasper stands a little straighter, taking a longer look at the girl. "You know, some said you were the vengeful ghost of a street child. I never believed it, mind you, since the Syndics always guarded well against the dead, but still. I'm amazed that the Requiem in Moonlight is so young."

Redford Blade: >>> Young? Should I have taken the Child Flaw and got the extra bonus points for it? razz <<<

Sasha meets Hidden Jasper's eyes evenly, the look on her face somewhere between a smile and a frown. Her eyes go hard, just for a moment, hinting at why, very rarely, the name Requiem in Moonlight would be heard in connection with an assassination.

"Not so young that those who rule Whitewall in their own interests would not throw me out of the city, condemn me to death simply for trying to keep my people alive."
'Going to scare him? I like spooky stories.'
"A street child? Oh yes. Vengeful? Most definitely. A ghost? Only when it suits me to be. If it scares those I seek to bring low, to make equal with the very people they suppress, then I choose to be anything they fear."
She takes a sip of a drink that an observer could have sworn wasn't there moments before, before looking back at Jasper.

"But you need not worry, Ambassador. You seek to help the oppressed, and the downtrodden. For someone whose aims align with my own, the only fear will be that of your enemies."