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Bright Journey	While there have been plenty of spicy, fascinating topics discussed in teahouses, restaurants, on the street and in shadowy alleys, there are just some sensitive topics that simply cannot be brought up where people might be listening in. Alas, some of the people who might need to be involved aren't already allowed in Bright's usual place, so instead she has arranged a meeting in Raullaur's office. Hopefully his soldiers aren't all leaning with their ears against the keyhole! Bright isn't wearing her armor or wielding her bow, instead sporting a nice dress in a rich jewel-tone green, setting off her pink hair and occasional spot of gold jewelry quite nicely. Not exactly kitted for war, to be sure, but sometimes the war of words is more dangerous anyway. "Thank you for having us, Raullaur. I know this is a bit of an inconvenience, but with the wide variety of people I wanted to invite, we didn't have another place of reasonable privacy available. I appreciate your help." She looks at everyone else in the room, in turn, her face serious but not grim. "Thank you all for coming, as well. I have other whom I wish were here, but we can discuss this separately with them later. For now, I must ask you all to keep this between us, and as soon as we start discussing it, I hope you all will see why that's so necessary."
Raullaur	The Lions' Pride has a full barracks and training yard now, and the lionmen are no longer wonderous in the city. They appear throughout, here and there, and within the compound, the training is quit vigorous...and skilled. The office is large enough for a at least a dozen people with a broad table suitable for rolling maps out. Various shelves hold markers and tokens to place on such for wargaming. And everything is very sturdy, comfortable. Well-made rather than flashy. Raullaur himself is dressed simply, in his usual linens. "You arrre of course, welcome, Brrright. Please, have seats. There is tea--cold or hot, as your choice--and food can come later, if any are hungry. Tiziri and Makara, welcome as well!"
Tepet Makara	Makara was not wearing his panoply as it's back at a hotel in Great Forks. He is currently wearing his grey kimono while drinking some cold tea. "Thanks for inviting us and I wonder what is this meeting about. I assume it has something to do with the affairs of Great Forks?" He says with curiosity although he wonders if there will be other visitors besides them.
Tiziri	Tiziri doesn't have a panalopy! Instead, she just looks fashionable, in a blue and orange outfit that looks suitable to a comfortable economic situation sort who has to move around a lot... that and her spear. That's carried almost like a yoke over her shoulders as she starts walking up towards the barracks, looking at the guards and seeming to have the sort of self assure smile that just expects she's going to be allowed entry.
Bright Journey	Bright leans back and happily accepts a cup of hot tea, then blows gently on it before setting it down. "Aaaaahh, she says, smiling. "You've no idea how parched I was, what with running around today. I've no shortages of things to think about now, that's for certain. Hard to imagine six months ago I was actually getting a bit bored! Anyway, Makara, you're right in a way. Part of why I wanted you along was because you know better than any of us about what happened out in the Shadowlands a bit ago, and frankly something happened that put that event back in my sights. I was hoping to ask you some questions, especially about that other Lunar we fought there. Not ancient history--that's your secret to keep, most likely--but what the necromancer is doing -now- and where he might have gone, who he's working for, that kind of thing. "Second is a more general warning for everyone. Someone asked me about the brilliant lights they saw from the Shadowlands." Her tone is dry, her expression wry, as she looks at Raullaur. "We might have overdone it a bit, I'm afraid, as dangerous as those ghosts and the necromancer were. I admit when all that fighting was going on, the last thing on my mind was 'we're on a huge battlefield and it's not all hilly, someone could see it at a distance', but..." She sighs and sips her tea. "Yeah. It happened, and we have to be more careful. I have a third thing, but we can talk about that in a bit, it's ancient history now that might have something to do with today."
Fudou the Mountain	Late to the party, it seems..but he's come. Fudou's heavy footed arrival and a rumble of the walls preceeds him and announces him better then any herald might have. Thus it should be no surprise when he finally ducks his head and brings his massive figure into the room with all of the fanfare of an yeddim moving through a cramped tea house. He's usually dressed down. Burly, beefy, bare chested with belts, ropes and sashes and mostly other such things. So in that sense its business as usual although his colossal grand goremaul is naturally nowhere in sight. He arrives just in time for Bright to speak and he pauses, not offering greetings or moving to interrupt her until she finishes at which point he lifts a craggy hand to rub at his lightly bearded jaw. And then grins, "I was asking around as well. You caused abit of a stir, yes? Lights in the distance. Who, exactly, is this 'someone'? That is very vague and we've had quite a few interesting encounters of late, yes?"
Raullaur	Raullaur listens, having a broad bowl from which to drink chilled tea himself as he listens to the topis. At the second one, he nods a bit and flicks his ears. "We needed to break through. If we had not let loose, we risked injury or worse. I still think it was the better choice. We just have to...deal with things now." He nods to Fudou. "Yes...I was one of the ones who caused those lights you asked me about. Necromancer's summoned hoards...and so it was a good thing we were there. As it turns out, the things he summoned...melted in the light."
Tiziri	Tiziri mainly just starts to make herself comfortable as she leans back in the chair, her spear leaning against herself. It is sheathed at least - the blade that is. Mostly she really just seems pretty content, even if curious. More odd is the rumors she's been seen in more than one place at the same time of late, at least if anyone has been paying attention. But whatever is up with that she is here. "And this runs to the heart of the matter. Why I was advising even my own sort that being too overt can be dangerous." Tiziri says in a tone that's almost a bit 'told you so' in its flippant way. "Not that I disagree with makign sure one surives and wins. But if we bring legions down on us, even the Rulers won't be able to stop it. Prudence is its own virtue."
Tepet Makara	"Ah yes, the anima flares in the shadowlands. I also meet that Looksyan Dragonblood that owns a shop here was interested in investigating the lights. I certainly wish he finds nothing and assumes the Solars that was there are gone" Makara sighs with a hint of guilt but he shrugs it off. Once Fudou arrives, he turns his attention to him. "Thankfully the necromancer fled but he may still be out there....doing something. I can't believe he was my past life's student"
Bright Journey	Bright nods in understanding, listening to everyone carefully. "Well, Fudou, thanks for coming. I appreciate it. Frankly, I'm not sure who it was--just a matter of gossip, and I dared not ask further or sound like I was too interested, you know? Looking back on it, perhaps I would have been better served using a spell and getting as much information as I could safely, but hindsight is perfect and all that. For now, it's bad enough that it was noticed and we can do little but leave it at that. Is it possible it was someone more...significant...than I thought? I am not sure. If I was fooled, at least I don't think I gave anything away." She turns to Raullaur and nods, then looks to both him and Tiziri. "For what little it's worth, Raullaur is correct that we needed to call on a great deal of strength to push back the onslaught. That was a LOT of angry war ghosts, and we had to deal with them before the necromancer Lunar finished whatever he was casting. But Tiziri, you're no less right for all that. The solution is to train and get better--enough so we can deal with that without turning into a pair of lighthouses. That's actually a good lead into the third thing I wanted to mention today." Bright pauses a moment and takes another sip to get her bearings, then begins. "Way back when I first came to Great Forks, I actually witnessed a carriage coming into the city, with what were some kind of foreign dignitaries inside. I don't know exactly who they were or where they were from, but they looked exactly like people that might come from a shadowland. Someone I was with actually tried to get their attention--gods, that was dumb--and they...I'm not sure. Paralyzed him, froze him in his tracks. Now, this was a long, long time ago, but I wonder if Great Forks negotiates with whoever is in charge there? I think I mentioned this to you before, Raullaur, but we could cause a rift between them if we're not careful, and that would be -horrific- for the city."
Raullaur	"Well, if they have, they should have made that known, shouldn't they? If they don't want us upsetting their game tables, we have to know there's a table with a game on it," Raullaur grumbles. "And if things need to be set right, well...we can get that sorted. Between troop strength, silver and jade, other sorts of power, I am sure we can, somehow, get things right. Even if I have to apologise standing on my head."
Tiziri	"Is this Lunar Necromancer dead?" Tiziri asks, pursing her lips rather concernedly. "That's my next question. I don't like that. Especially if one is coming into conflict with us. Using our weapons in service to some fights is laudible, but conflicting with you all? That's more of a question, more of an issue to me. to the Pact at that. I don't like it." She asserts. Tiziri starts to look between the others as she awaits the answer to this question, her head tilting to the side rather far in her almost avian way as she does. Her eyes barely blinking as she stares at them all. "Because if not. I feel we need to deal with that one. To make sure they're dead." A pause, "Or find out why they did what they did."
Fudou the Mountain	"Subterfuge is necessary as is restraint but it's inevitable that by simply being who we are and where we are that things like this will happen. We can't live our lives walking on razor's edges though yes..Prudence has its place. Rishi recently came to realize that herself and it wasn't a pretty realizaton.." Fudou waves his hand a little bit at all of that though his cheeks did redden abit as he heard Tiziri. He then listens calmly and finally rumbles, "Consider that if you did do something that affected the plans of the rulership of Great Forks they'd have let us know by now. The Three know of the presence of Exalted after all. They make their requests known to those of us who dwell here. Certainly if a problem was caused with dignitaries or if they needed the help of THe Chosen they'd reach out in defense of their sovereign domain?" He shakes his head folding his massive arms now, "You'd all have been run out of the city by now if you were jeapordizing anything that they needed in place considering the current state of things. I wouldn't jump to conclusions there. In fact. Simple solution would be to simply ask them. Get an audience."
Tepet Makara	"I'm afraid he fled like a coward but if he ever comes back, I will prepare for him if he dares shows his face again" Makara says with an assuring tone to Tiziri regarding Crimson Fangs. "But for now, I'm glad the problems in the shadowland is over...for now besides those who are curious about the anima flares. Hopefully the interests in it die down like a fashion fad."
Bright Journey	Bright frowns, but slowly nods as she thinks. "Well...perhaps I was overthinking it. This time. In general, though, we all need to be sure to be watching the bigger picture. Thanks for the perspective, all of you." Bright pauses, clearly mentally switching gears, as she looks Tiziri in the eye. "The Lunar necromancer? I know he gave his name but I was around the corner and surrounded by a thousand screaming war ghosts at the time. I have no idea what it was, but Makara, if you'd care to let us know, I think we'd be all grateful. Frankly, I brought him up because I want to do a lot more than just 'be ready if he comes again'. He -will- show up again. I want to find him so we can dictate the terms. Of battle, if necessary. He was skilled enough to bind a whole battlefield's worth of ghosts, though once released he did not try to direct them."
Tiziri	Tiziri is looking thoughtful now. "Interesting." She ends up finally saying. "Truthfully. I may be... uniquely suited to dealing with him. I am not particularly concerned about large numbers - even less if you've dealt with a lot of them already. I have... a myriad ways of dealing with them ones which might not even draw attention depending on the circumstancres." She agrees. "though being able to have backup is definitely preferable, another Lunar who can shift to a flying form especially." She is tapping her chin thoughtfully now.
Raullaur	Raullaur snorts slightly. "Shame I cannot command ghosts. Anyone who could, who had a bit of tactics or strategy, could have done far worse to us. And then saved them once they figured out there was a barrier they could not get through. A poor commander, or one who regarded them as fodder for war. And maybe that was desperation...I know I've seen times where the only thing we could do was fight or die..."
Tepet Makara	"I still have yet to know what it was but I do know what we faced wasn't no ordinary war ghost, it was something else entirely." Makara shudders at the thought that there are other things besides ghosts and zombies in the shadowlands and even the Underworld. "But I did inherit some dark knowledge from my past life regarding necromancy since I have initiated into it's first circle. I only know how to raise corpses, but I hope to learn that spell that helps a ghost pass into the cycle of Lethe next. I've been considering how to summon ghosts, but I swore to myself not to enslave innocent souls"
Fudou the Mountain	The giant lunar is silent. Listening to talk of ghosts. Then: "Is that the concern then? Some rogue ghost?" Fudou doesn't seem as impatient as he is concerned, confused perhaps. "Surely this and more threats lurk. The portal beneath the city is still an unknown factor.. as are the chosen of fate. More dangerous by far I would think to our present situation or do you believe that some sort of larger attack on you is looming?" He pauses and then allows a slight smile to crease his brutish expression. Oddly impish even. "Perhaps you are simply over thinking things, Bright Journey. You've become somewhat....out in the front..so to speak. Perhaps you should take more time to look to your personal pursuits and worry less about the broader picture. You have trips to consider. Raksi? Perhaps The Caul?"
Tiziri	"All that said." Tiziri muses further, pursing her lips further before getting a more impish look on her face. "Don't suppose someone's heard of a moonsilver spear somewhere? Can't say one wouldn't help make me a bit more useful." She sounds like she's joking a bit, if nothing else. "Either way, I think there's some preparations I'm starting to think of. Ones that will be useful either against that... or uppity portals." She stretches her hands out over her head and leans back, uncrossing her legs and recrossing them the other way. Then she looks more directly at Bright. "As always, I can certainly promise a meeting with my Shahan-ya. Thoguh I can equally promise it will be anything but what you'd expect. It will be a test, and you'll find yourself challenged. She's quite good at that." She giggles a bit, though it's almost a nervous laugh more than any real mirth.
Tepet Makara	"I actually plan to travel to the Caul someday since it will be my second time there. I was actually assigned there briefly in Faxai but my mentor forced me to change to Greyfalls since it's like a warzone there. It was so brief, I didn't even had time to learn Seatongue!" Makara chuckles at his post change that had the lifespan of a mayfly. "But either way, I'm ok if we visit Raksi first. I'll uhh make a few adjustments for my illusory disguise when meeting her so she won't be alarmed by someone wearing armor with the markings of a dynast" Even if he never met the Queen Of Fangs, he feels intimated by the shahanya.
Raullaur	Raullaur hmms. "Journeys? I have heard of both Raski and the Caul. I am...intrigued at the possibilities. If I am welcome, I would want to come. If it does not work..." He grins, "I just don't want to miss out on the battles like those in the Dreaming Sea again!"
Bright Journey	Bright looks slightly miffed, but carefully leans back, legs crossed, and sips her tea once more. "All right. I think we need to slow down for a few moments here and not get distracted by irrelevance. I was not talking about ghosts at all, save a group we have long since defeated. We just have a Lunar who is frankly dangerous, and the only reason I mentioned the ghosts at all is this Lunar was a powerful enough necromancer to bind -hundreds- of them. Maybe thousands. I wasn't exactly counting. "So, Fudou, if you're right and those who control the shadowlands won't be looking for us, or at least have no way to find us, that's fine. Problem solved for the time being, you agree? Then we're on the same page, so to speak. And I assure you, the potential upcoming meeting with an actual...help me with the pronunciation here...'shahan-ya' has never been far from my mind. I have actually been working hard to refocus my efforts and develop the skills I'll need to convince her of the rightness of my cause. I think I stand a better chance now than I did when last we spoke, and I'll stand a better chance still by the time we actually meet. "That said, Makara, I -strongly- recommend that armor stay far from you. My understanding is that this Raksi's greatest strength is sorcery. Don't try to deceive her, especially with magic." She pauses and drains her cup, leaning forward a bit. "Now. What is this about a Caul?"
Tiziri	Tiziri giggles some more at Makara's statement, a high pitched, almost musical giggle. She is covering her mouth and her eyes sparkling in amusement. "I promise you any trick you have, she's seen. She has been around since before the betrayal." She says with a nod. "She may well be the most powerful being you've ever met." She looks around, "Any of you." a pause. then a little shrug. "OK, second most. If Luna visisted you when you were chosen. But you get my point."
Fudou the Mountain	"I'm afraid there's no Shahan-Ya you will meet that will not test her and push her to her limits. It's simply the end result of what she seeks that makes the difference. I suggested Raksi because she is Creations greatest sorceress and Bright Journey is a sorceress." He then glances to Raullaur, "Not all journeys need be massive group efforts but I won't say you go but some trips are personal and who knows how someone like Raksi might react to several Solars showing up. But keep in mind what we discuss is not a weekend get away or journey in search of entertainment. Going into Lunar Dominion is... Hmm...well it will enlighten you." He does seem amused at Bright's cross response though and takes no offense to her sharp words. "I merely suggest that there might not be much of anything you can do and speculation is not necessarily healthy. You survived and your foe was vanquished yes? That is what I perceive. If this necromancer returns...well not even all of us were involved last time. Now we are forewarned yes?" He then makes a mild gesture, "And Great Forks -wants- allies. Defenders. Needs it. That's why I suggested The Three. They may yet bolster any further efforts against a rogue necromancer of such power.."
Tepet Makara	"I would have just used the true shape of my armor but I'll look even more suspicious that it's mixed with soulsteel and moonsilver. But Bright is right, I'll just store my armor away when meeting her far away from prying eyes" Makara sighs that he can't bring his armor even if disguised, for one of the greatest sorcerers in Creation can pierce through even the illusions of other Lunars. "I'll just go with a made up name, since of course she will be suspicious of someone with a dynast surname"
Tiziri	Tiziri looks strangely at Makara. Then says bluntly. "Raksi will eat you alive. Possibly in truth." She is dead serious sounding too. "She is an Elder. A powerful one. One who will respect confidence, strength. One who will look down on cowardice like that. You can't be naive with one like her. We are Chosen of Luna - or in other cases her, The Sun. We aren't some simpering fools."
Tepet Makara	"So I'll go with my true name? I wonder if that will make her even more mad" Makara gulps as he wonders how she will react to a dynast that exalted as one of the lunar exalted. "I'm still on the fence if I should join with the trip to Raksi's domain, but I hope she won't mind my surname...."
Fudou the Mountain	"This is what I'm talking about." interjects Fudou, quickly and mildly sharply, "We're not discussing some outing to a tea house where people just want to tag along to meet someone interesting. This can be very dangerous and if you're not ready or secure in yourself as a Chosen of Luna then this is a bad idea. But you -are- Chosen so consider that."
Tepet Makara	Still indecisive whether he should go or not, he decides to go with the risk even if it's in front of the Queen Of Fangs herself. "If Raksi prefers honesty then, I'll go with you to her domain mostly as to return the favor for the other's help in the shadowlands."
Tiziri	Tiziri rolls her eyes and stretches again as she stands up. "You're a Chosen of Luna. The past matters not. Only the present." Tiziri says firmly. Then she grabs her spear. "From our kind. She expects respect. And strength. Otherwise we are not capable of fighting the battles that will come. There are many sorts of strength, of course. But respect is paramount. She will not suffer that sort of weakness. She will not suffer a lack of confidence. You must be ready to discover your limits, right down to what meals you can stomach. Because she WILL test you, and it will be harsher than you can imagine."
Tepet Makara	"Luna did choose me since I survived Futile Blood's aftermath. If it's a test, so be it. Whether I succeed or not, I will gain some personal insight for myself even if it's a hard to swallow pill" Makara comments with resolve in his voice even if visiting the ruling lunar of Mahalanka is a difficult path to walk but it may help him in the long run.
Bright Journey	Bright Journey has a firm, determined look on her face as she leans forward, her multicolored eyes boring into Makara's own. The force of her personality shines through, with a glimmer of the terrifying force of will hidden beneath her refined manners. "Listen to me, Makara. I need to make this very, very clear to you. The reason I am still alive today--my life's work--is to bridge the gaps between Lunar and Solar, Sidereal and Dragon-Blood...anyone willing to stand between Creation and the darkness. This is a once in a lifetime chance for me to do -just that- and I am preparing for it like a runner a marathon. I am spending days and nights honing my skills so I do not shame the Unconquered Sun when I go forth -daring- to speak with such an ancient being. I will not -let- you ruin that chance for me, and if you cannot behave with impeccable grace you will not be coming within leagues of our meeting. You need to pull yourself together, act as befits the Chosen of Luna that you are, or you can go visit Raksi on your own time." Bright stands up. She's not angry, per se, but she is a little heated and impossibly determined. "Now I want you to think about all that myself, Tiziri, and Fudou said. You can be firm. You have it in you. But you cannot treat this like a weekend getaway. This could mean my -life-. Or your own. I want you to think about that."
Tepet Makara	Makara sweats while looking at Bright's eyes and nods wordlessly. "Of course I won't treat this like some vacation and I'll do my best to be on my best behavior when meeting her" He wipes the sweat from his brow. And he thought his teachers back at the House Of Bells was scary enough. "I have to admit, my reasons for joining is mostly to see a shahanya for the first time. I may be tattoed but I have been long isolated from Lunar society as I hid amongst my house. I sometimes feel guilt of not joining the Silver Pact as I even turned down the offer of the one who tattoed me. I was hoping to join mostly as penance"