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Ignis	It's a regular circus here and not necessarily of the entertaining sort unless you find organized chaos fun to observe. No. Here be jostling Scavenger Lords, arguing Scholars, frustrated Theologians and..the worst of them all..officials. So many officials. Those in service of The Three of Great Forks haggle furiously with envoys from Lookshy and the banners of various camps of individuals all join together as one to create a great big heaping..mess. But that's usually what's going on around these parts though perhaps today is abit more noisy then others. Antihelios - a great archelogical dig site dating back to..perhaps The First Age itself - is far too valuable for tis sort of nosnse and yet it is far too valuable to not expect this sort of nonsense to happen. It is a bit of irony not lost on Ignis. "Well this is goign to be a pain.." he muses as he stands atop a large outcropping full of grass and with a nearby slope leading down towards the camps and the entrance to the cave system beyond. One arm is propped up against a twisted tree to balance his lean while his other arm is at his side, hand on hips though a series of papers are also clenched in that hand as well as he looks over the proceedings with a studious but frowning face.
Holegn	The red-head is walking along said outcropping, her gaze also on the chaotic organized mess below. "Heh. They don't deserve to see this place in its current state, let alone its former glory. Thieves. Grave robbers. Vandals. Greedy shits." She rubs at her chin, still chattering away to herself. "Hmmm. I wonder how much it would take to get them to fight each other?"
Ignis	Though not startled per se, Ignis is forced to raise an eyebrow and then turn in surprise to see the newcomer as she makes her way closer and issues her conclusion on the nature of all who have gathered below. "Well now..that was a fairly harsh assesssment but ..I suppose there is no lie per se. Stlll, it's hard to argue the case for thievery if nobody lives who can lay claim to what lies beneath." He folds both arms now and leans his back against the tree in order to fully face Holegn, "As to fighting amongst themselves.. Well..I don't think you'd -want- to see Lookshy and Great Forks at each other throats, what with Thoros out there looming as a problem to take advantage of the weakness of either. Still..probably wouldn't take much." Ignis inclines his head and then smiles slightly, "I take it you don't much care for Scavenger Lords and their ilk?"
Holegn	"I don't mind them so much." Holly says, looking over her shoulder at the man and his tree. "More likely than not, many of them will perish in that place. It is nothing more now than a tomb for a civilization slain at its peak. Only fitting that others are laid to rest in her halls." She gestures at the banners of the cities. "If that place below contains the treasures that brought all these people here, what do you think is going to happen? Better that they fight out here... instead of inside, confined, further damaging the places of rest of so many."
Ignis	"I understand that there are some teams already missing.." confirms Ignis as he looks away from her to look over the makeshift city of tents below. "What you say is probably tree, given the nature of the place. There are certainly treasures below ..or perhaps something dangerous that must be kept hidden away or at least taken and stored elsewhere. So then I suppose question is..are the lives of mortals more or less valuable then the items and this tomb below? Or is the knowledge that lies in worth the risk of loss and possible fighting to allow the victor to lay claim to it? Progress is risk, some might suggest..." He steps away from the tree now and hopes down from its gnarled above ground roots to land solidly upon the ground near Holegn, "What do you think?"
Holegn	Holly shrugs her shoulders. "I mean, it is legend, myth, fable... relicts from the First Age. No one ever stops to think... why have people never returned? Surely someone remembered this place and wrote it down. Personally, I don't think it's a good idea to risk one's life over such things. Let sleeping tombs lie, as they say. Personally, few will benefit, many will die."
Ignis	"There is some wisdom in what you're saying.." notes Ignis after a momentary pause to reflect on her words. "I would just suggest that learning about our past can benefit more then just a few if the knowledge gained can be shared or put to good use. Architecture, art, history..understanding where we came from and why. It's not always just about valuable treasure but..a discovered wonder of the ancient world that could change the way we see and do things..might lessen the grip of slave trade or act as a deterrence to war or invasion.." He finally shrugs and then smiles, "If nobody goes to look ..then nobody will ever know."
Holegn	"And no one would plunder it either. They're going to damage the architecture, art and books before anyone gets to study it. Everything priceless will be taken, everything worthless... that's all that stuff you said... will be stomped on." Holly shrugs. "It's no wisdom, I've just seen it before. It's greed, pure and simple. Pfff. Deterrents have a funny way of turning into a means of conquering, and unless you're giving these discoveries to everyone, slaves are still going to be used."
Ignis	"And yet that two slaves of fifty who manage to nake it is a better situation then all fifty remaining imprisoned because nothing was ever done to help them." notes Ignis. "You're pragamatic and maybe I'm too much of an optomist but..for all the trampling that is done..one good thing that benefits someone who would otherwise remain in chains but for nobody bothering to try..still creates something better for tomorrow. We can't avoid loss but that doesn't mean none should ever try. If secrets of the past remain lost forever then Creation may never better days again." He pauses and then notes, "At least..if you believe the old days were as glorious as the myths say." He pauses and then a wry grin slowly comes across his face as he asks bluntly, "..So when are you going in?"
Holegn	"If they put the wealth in that place to use freeing slaves, then sure, good things could come of it. Do you think the cities will spend the wealth that way?" The red-head crosses her arms. "I don't think they will be that magnanimous." Shaking her head, "Glorious, certainly. Until they were not." Holly purses her lips and tries very hard to not smile. Something she succeeds at, mostly. "Dark has a higher chance of success. I doubt they will want to go down there in the dark, and it would be easier to sneak past them."
Ignis	"The collective 'they' most certainly won't." notes Ignis, "Change of any sort starts small, yes? Or at least with a few people doing big things. No, no, this sort of momentum will never stop without something drastic happening or a slow build that causes people to wake up and fight for the change they want to see. But if -nobody- leads the way or shows what can be done..how could they?" Ignis gestures absently over the camp, "Night would be better yes though one might want to get a handle on any sort of..more then mortal eyes that might be watching the entrance. Still..if someone could even elude their gaze and get in or ..if there was a distraction of sorts..it looks doable."
Holegn	"Doing things small will only get you killed.", she says with a huff. "You could ask my parents about that, if you have a way to contact the dead." Holly turns to regard the encampment again. "You only need get inside. It is unlikely mortals would want to follow, so you only need be able to deal with.. the less than mortal eyes when they come looking for you."
Ignis	"Hm." It's hard to say at first if that's in regards to her mentioning her parents or if in regards to her words ond getting through the entrance to the ruins. "Deal with them you say. Huh." he ponders before he finally lifts up the papers he'd been holding all this time. "Your way sounds alot more fun then my thought on getting official approval or a little attempted forgery to just 'get permission' to walk in." There's a pause and then he explains, "My late father was a Scavenger Lord of some ability and though I'm not disciplined enough to keep managing his affairs I've have some resources I can call on from time to time.."
Holegn	The woman snorts, "Well, we could try it your way, if you wanted a second pair of eyes and hands in your exploration of the place. But how certain are you of success in gaining permission? Do you have enough coin? Can you curry favour?" She runs a hand through her hair. "If we are denied, then we'd be forced to sneak, not to mention, if we're spotted we'd immediately raise suspicion, because we'd have been told no already. Makes it more difficult to look around the encampment, yes?"
Ignis	The tall man ponders this for a few seconds, rubbing his jaw thoughtfully before nodding his head and just balling up the papers he'd been carrying. "Well I suppose being naughty is sometimes better then being nice. You raise some good points there." Ignis grins again, his eyes narrowing slightly as his arms fold and he leans forward a bit, "So what do you thinK? Shall we partner up then? I'm assuming, since you were so comfortable with Raullaur and the woman who was speaking of effectively bullying entire cults..that you can take care of yourself as well as take care of supernatural eyes on you?"
Holegn	"Well, I am uhm... intimate with Raullaur. I can hold my own, but well, I do not know what we're potentially facing here. So I can't make any such claims. I will not go quietly into the night, however." Holly crosses her arms. "What of you, are you capable in a fight?"
Ignis	"....Intimate with Raullaur?" No there's no getting around him focusing on that for a few moments. His face contorts a few different ways as if he's trying to figure out what to ask next and how and then finally settles on, diplomatically, "..You mean you know him very well? How well? What's he told you?" As to the rest he shrugs a little bit and answers, "As for me? Well..it depends.."
Holegn	Her eyes narrow. "What did you think I meant?", she wonders, edging a little closer. "And on what does it depend? I mean, if this really is a city of the first age buried under here, then there is basically no limitation to what is lurking down there. Ancient defenses, ancient beasts, anathema..."
Ignis	"I think you meant exactly what you said." says Ignis, hastily, in an attempt to go for the save. He grins, perhaps abit too hard, pressed by her approach and narrowed eyes. He then finally shrugs abit to her line of questioning and nods his head, "Well yeah..alright. I was going to say it depends on how you answered the question about Raullaur but..I suppose it doesn't matter." He reachesu p towards his head and pushes up strands of his messy hair to clear it from his forhead. Not that it would matter considering the nature of what happens next. The castemark of the Dawn shimmers into view, softly glowing on his brow, "I can handle myself down there." he notes. "..But yes it depends on what's down there so I suggest whatever we do it's mostly to just take a look for a more indepth search later."
Holegn	"Pfff. Relax.", she says, gesturing with a hand dismissively. When his castemark shows, she closes her eyes, and a moment later the Dawn sun shimmers faintly on her brow. "I know Raul is one of us.", she says softly. "And I meant the other kind of intimate." She looks away a moment, peering at the encampment. "Tanaka Holly.", she offers as an introduction. "How well do you know Raullaur?"
Ignis	"I remember. Holly if you're informal, right?" reminds Ignis, referring to their brief meeting at their campsite some time back. "Well enough." he says, "..His people are his priority but for a time he was at a loss..at least it seemed..on what to do with himself. What his second breath even means for him. I think he's found his goal. We talked about things like him forging a homeland for his Pride.' Ignis quiets and then nods his head, "He's honorable and just from what I've seen. It can be hard to know..how to focus this power. To not just be urged on t thrill seeking and wild antics." There's a pause and he looks back to her, "..Did Raullaur tell you about the other?"
Holegn	"Yes, Holly if you're informal. Did... you give me your name, last time?" She chuckles lightly, nodding. "Yes, he is quite enthusiastic about that homeland of his, in his mind. He's done well keeping his people together." She rubs at her cheek, "The others? More like us?"
Ignis	"Ignis." he says simply enough, quickly at that. After a pause he notes, "I don't now the circumstanes of how he exalted but...if he's the protector of his people and they have no homeland and are wandering then..I can understand why. I think the question will be more on how he gets the land he seeks and what he'll do or need to do to defend it. The Three are tolerant of our presence with certain concessions made to them to not cause trouble in Great Forks but it goes without saying that a nation of Lion Men with a sun king at its head is bound for trouble..." He quiets again and then says, "Yes..more like us. Several in fact.. And others besides as well. It's a bizarre assembly and one I think the Three are probably nervous about."
Holegn	"Well, potentially he'd have a Sun queen at his side. That might be too much for the Three to not act. Though, perhaps diplomacy would smooth that out before anything... untoward happens. There are lots of places with land for the taking that aren't controlled by the Three. Just a matter of finding it. She cants her head slightly. "Oh? Several? I have a few guesses... but uhm. Who? Do they know of me?"
Ignis	"I didn't know of you. I don't see how they could. It's pure chance or..perhaps something else. Fate..perhaps..that we keep finding each other." suggests Ignis. "Also ..queen? You move quick." he chuckles abit but seems to be joking as he smiles but then grows more serious quickly, "Who are you guessing may be one? Also..I don't think Raullaur's goals conflict with The THree. THey are concerned with their own territory and sovereignty in Great Forks. Like you said, treaties and agreements win the day. They want allies. They've suffered losses in recent memory. Rather, I think THe Hundred Kingdoms or near it might prove useful instead. He should consider going there and continuing ties with Great Forks."
Holegn	"Fate, but by whose hands? Ours? Do you make your own fate, Ignis?", Holly wonders, casting a glance again towards the camp. She laughs then, and shrugs. "Who knows, if we last, then I'll be by his side when he founds his own kingdom. Not saying it will happen, but it is a possibility." She rolls her shoulders slightly. "Well, one I am certain is a dynast, though, outcast. Another, well, according to the rumours, she's bested several masters in Great Forks. She's definitely packing some power to be able to do that. The Mountain is definitely another. And recently, some giant red-head, but... she's not normal. And I mean, not like us, different, but she's packing something for certain."
Ignis	He listens, nodding his head as she recounts those she's encountered. He makes no attempt at guile but his face seems calm and restrained, as if the indivdiuals she descries are of no surprise to him. "I hesitate to confirm or deny precisely because..it's not my place or business to reveal others if they wish to remain secret..but I will say to follow your instincts. If you feel they are one, it is probably so. Some play losely at trying to hide who they are but for people like us..it doesn't last. We usually find each other and stick out like sore thumbs. Great Forks is a great sanctuary as the Wyld Hunt has no presence or power here but..still watch your back." He quiets then and frowns mildly, looking troubled, "What do you mean by..different, though?"
Holegn	"Pff, so not willing to name names, hmm? You seem to know whom I speak of, or at the least, you suspect as I do. Surely some knowledge would help me a little, yes?" Holly steps a little closer, enough to lightly bap him on the shoulder with her fingertips. The woman looks troubled. "Hers was not like ours... she felt wrong."
Ignis	"Hey, I don't want them coming knocking on my door at night. Some of them may know where I live! You want me spreading your name around town?" Ignis grins a little but it doesn't last, "Wrong....how?" he presses. He then begins to further explain: "..I've encountered..someone.." he pauses once again, fumbling and looking frustrated "This is...hard to explain. To try again, myself and ..this duelist you spoke of encountered an individual who themselves..well..there was a duel of some sort and..I remember it happening." He frowns, looking bothered, "But I can't remember who it was with. Not their face, name, nothing. Just that..there was a demonstration of faccinating martial arts skill. But I got nothing. And now you're telling me that you encountered someone like 'us' but that it was somehow 'wrong'..?"
Holegn	"Well, her mark was green. Didn't get the best look at it because after they agreed to stop the fight, she ran and jumped over the arena wall. Her power use, just looked wrong, and she was covered in green fire at one point."
Ignis	"The powers of the chosen are often associated with colors. We are gold, the chosen of luna shine silver. The Dragonblood show their elemental heritages. Green>" Ignis frowns a little, "Perhaps someone gifted with the gift of exigence? The power of a unique god to empower them but..for what purpose? A battle in the arena? And why would it feel 'wrong'?" Ignis shakes his head, the ruins forgotten for now, "This gap in my memory and what you're telling bothers me. Especially so close to those displays of power in the Shadowland by our peers. Maybe someone's taken notice of us all here in Great Forks."
Holegn	"I hope not. It doesn't bode well. Who, though?" Holly begins pacing back and forth "Maybe I shouldn't have come here." She eyes Ignis then, "So you know you were with someone, but not who it was, and they fought someone else? You can't recall either of the duelists? I know who was fighting, that giant woman, and Fudou the Mountain. Didn't catch her name, but I'd know her if I saw her again."