Welcome to Gaia! ::

Pluto, his wife, and the Gengar Thanatos appeared outside the Guild Exchange with a loud crack!, having been transported there by Pluto's usual staff. They waited respectfully outside as the former three entered the room and took their seats, except a small Metang that floated in after them. Adme, the Porygon program that controlled the Steel-Psychic type, parked it on the ground behind the Leafeon's chair.

Not only was it smart to have at least one of his staff around, especially one who won't run the danger of leaking information, the Metang CaSoVI was also the best safeguard he could find for the Ground Relic. Locked inside the powerful Psychic, protected by Thanatos and guildmasters, it was one of the safest places for it.

---

Suicune had been notified of the meeting, and came because she liked to know what was going on. Things have been a little crazy. That "Mother Goddess" figure they had run into at the ruins looked suspiciously familiar to her, and that Dragonite had been horrifyingly strong.

Still more than a little uncomfortable around the mortals, and even a fellow semi-legendary, Suicune quickly darted in and settled down in the darkest most shadowed corner of the room she could find. She was here to listen and learn.

Well then, it was down to him. Hopefully the collected guild masters could hold their tongues and calm their minds long enough to come to a conclusion. Then again, barring Solaris who already knew, they were all fairly intelligent. Frost would feel the burden most greatly and should be bear it, he would not lash out. Tempest was shrewd, though she knew to begin with. Pluto would be angry, but he recognized the need for calm diplomacy above all else. Antonio Scarface... he knew little about. But Alfred had picked him for the job, so hopefully he was suitably intelligent for the role.

"As all of you know, the guilds were attacked. We have had casualties, among them were several ranking members of Shimmering Ice and the Guild Master of Rebirth. However, prior to the attack, Alfred was able to create a disc that contained the sum of his knowledge. What I speak of at this time, however, is the updated Guild Charter contained within. There were a few minor alterations to the rules made, largely to allow for current staff changes. A new Guild Master for Roaring Thunder..." He stopped to look at Tempest... "and for Blazing Fire." and Scarface. "The only other alterations made were simple additions to previously empty slots and will be explained in full later on. For now, I shall explain the nature of the attacks that took place."

Where to start, where to start, where to start... It was a complicated thing to explain, wasn't it? "As many of you no doubt suspect, I had prior knowledge of our enemies. I will explain who and what they are to the best of my abilities, but first I must tell you a legend... Though to call it a legend would be incorrect. It is history."

He paused for a moment, gathering his breath and his thoughts. He had wanted to avoid this. Completely, if possible. He hadn't thought he would have to divulge so much so soon. "Originally, there was nothingness. A void. And then, Arceus created the universe. He cast down his light to create the creatures, but in turn he created the shadows. His power had split and abandoned him, turning into Suecra and Creaus. The former is better known as the God of Destruction." The one who resided within Alfred, as they all knew. "And for a time, things were fine. But at that time, pokemon were without their types. So Arceus created 17 pendants." He pulled the rock pendant out from a pouch on his belt and rolled it to the middle of the table.

"These pendants were then given to the mortal world, and with it the Types of pokemon. Our new abilities made combat quick and decisive. You see, the world was torn by massive, bloody war. Without the abilities we have now, it was slow and painful. But with them, fighting was quick. Once all the pokemon had taken on their powers, Arceus gathered the pendants and put them in the care of Dialga and Palkia. The two promptly waged war on one another." It was ridiculous, really. Two gods waging war on one another, but there it was. "In the battle, the pendants absorbed their power. They became much stronger. They were scattered to the earth and pokemon began to use them. The abilities within the pendants, however, were obscene. Those who bore the pendants died quickly and the power they unleashed ripped the universe apart at the seams. So, Arceus let it go."

Yeah, that's right, we're universe number TWO.

"In the void, Arceus regained his power. And he tried again. He created another universe and he created seventeen soldiers to do his bidding. One for each type, one for each pendant. They were created from his own blood in order to withstand the power of the pendants. But, the flow of time is inevitable, and some died. Although the pendants granted them ageless bodies and incredible regeneration while worn, some still fell. Some pendants were lost and others were reclaimed. Those pendants that were lost were eventually found, by mortals. Mortals who took them up and damaged the balance just as it was so long ago."

"And that brings us to more modern times." God this was a long-winded explanation. "The use of the pendants by mortals and the existence of Nico has destroyed the balance. The universe hangs by a thread. Arceus is very nearly dead. We are on a clock. A timer. I do not know how long we have. Some time ago, it was proclaimed that we had 'three months' but I do not know how that has changed since we claimed some of the pendants from the wild."

He would stop, there. Stop to give it time to sink in. He would allow a moment of dread. All the information was there. Who attacked them, who they were and what the problem was. If he offered a solution immediately, it would not be taken properly. He needed a moment--just a moment for that fear to set in. For the thought that 'everything is over' to permeate their minds. It was a line to skip across carefully. The manipulation was subtle, but present. If he had offered the solution instantly, the natural thing to do would be to be angry at him for not divulging it sooner. But in the face of the apocalypse, once fully realized, that fear would be replaced with... respect. Appreciation. Gratitude.

And that would tie them together. That would tie them to him. If the guild masters had any doubts, coordinating them would be much harder. Tolin needed to be viewed as a savior, not as a fool.

After all, it was quite possible they would all die before it was over. It was much easier to order people to their death if they trusted him.

Pluto had already known about the charter Alfred had left behind, and thus what attention he paid to it was very soon lost at the next comment. The one who had attacked the guilds. Their enemy was powerful, much moreso than Pluto had expected. To have decimated most of the Guilds!

The Leafeon kept his rising ire in check, partially because he's trained to how not to give himself a stroke, and partially because there was no use being angry. He might be the advisor for Rebirth now, but Tolin before the charter change had been a member of the guild he presided over. A lot of lives were lost to information, both a lack of and of half-truths or outright lies. If he had been informed, he might have been able to avoid a few tragedies, maybe have been able to foresee the attack...

His eyes followed the pendant that Tolin rolled onto the table, frowning. He's been dealing with the court for long enough to know when someone was not making a solely objective report. The Scyther was trying to scare the assembled members into obedience. After what had happened at the last Meeting of the Guildmasters, Pluto would not have allowed the Pendant he had obtained to be so out in the open. And knowing the strength of their enemies, of that single Dragonite who had almost taken down an entire guild with barely a flinch, of the damage those Pendants can do...no, Pluto would not have exposed the pendant so.

But he took it all without comment. Tolin was to be trusted for now. He had been close with Alfred and he was the best-informed. Though Pluto was determined to make sure that they were all just as informed by the time they walk out of this room.

He showed little distress at the news- he has seen his own death hovering over him for many years, and the uncertainty of death, possibly of oblivion, was not new. His only uncertainty was in regard of the few he cared about; Minerva his wife, and Thanatos, his lifelong friend. What would happen to his spirit, which was currently trapped between two worlds, if the world was to end? He watched the reaction of Frost, then considered Tempest's suggestion. The former brought up a good point.

"How do you propose that we fix this?" He rasped, his voice quiet, but confident that he will be given the attention he was due. "From what I know of you, you did not gather us in the simple hopes that we will come up with something together. You have already created a solution, have you not?"

Pluto considered Lucinda's words, but did not respond. The Guild of the Sun also needed rearranging. Their second-in-command was not exactly fit for the job. Apollo had disappeared many months ago with no explanation. The Leafeon had considered ways to fill these posts before of course, but had never gotten around to it in the face of more important duties.

With the attacks though, it has become a priority. The guild's leadership ranks needed to be filled with capable Pokemon in order to deal with the crisis.