The End of an Era and The Beginning of a New (235 members)

[Jericho]

"This is information already known. What more did he say?" Jericho asked impatiently, unaware that, despite his lack of tone or inflection, it was probably an annoying pestering question. Of course, he meant no harm. Pestering was not his motivation; just a need for new information.

[Sir Galahad]

Ramses would nod at Jericho.

"Indeed, I realize that you and young Dime were with the late King during the last meeting. But the Fair Lady here was not, so I was getting her up to speed. Please share some patience with me, young Jericho, I assure you I will give you all the information I have, or rather, the information the late King left behind I suppose."

With that he would pick up the notes and look at them for a moment.

"Ah, yes. So after the unfortunate incident with the dealer, the King came to conclude that whoever the other person was that watched they must have been a wind user. Being able to deal damage to the collapsing building without any physical contact. The sudden and random presence of wind in a alley with no breezeway, and the escape that he made at the end. It reminded him of the Storm Dragon's flying ability. So, he sent out all of his scouts to locate wind users."

Ramses would pull out three additional packets of paper. These were all written in English and were legible, these must have been made by the scouts themselves.

"Here, are the dossiers for the people they found with wind abilities in our territory. There are only three, thankfully, but it is possible that one of these three is behind that attack, and may know more about what is happening, if not run the very thing himself."

[Cecelia Riddel]

Was...was there supposed to be this much backbiting between them?  Granted, Celia was used to nobles wanting things for themselves, having different ideas and priorities, but openly questioning each other in front of a guest, or a new leader?  The girl's scandal meter was reaching new heights as she listened in silence and got what she believed was some juicy drama along the way.

"Thank you for your patience."  She offered Ramses a smile that showed some of her relief, but in truth, the majority of what he said went over her head.  This wasn't a woman's place to track down potential criminals!  And a qi user!  Poor soul.

She takes a step towards the table and begins glancing over the documents.

"Are any of these familiar people to any of you?"

[Dime Price]

Dime looked at the faces, and she looked at some usual significant details she might have used in the past.

If any of them were Quarters men she would know. If any of them were one of her own she'd recognize them no doubt. Staying silent she would search her memories.

[Jericho]

Jericho left his post of observation. By now, should anything happen, him and Dime were grouped together, along with Ramses, who would not have been in his position without impressive skill. After the analysis that had been processing in his mind for the past few minutes, he decided the level of attention needed in the room outweighed the attention needed beyond it.

Jericho approached the table with his blocky but time- and effort-efficient movements, and looked at the pictures. One of them already had a place in Jericho's memory, but none of them had his trust. It could have been any of them.

"I recognize one, but all need investigation."

[Sir Galahad]

Dime would recognize the same one Jericho did since he was a Zell. She would so recognize one of the others as being a man that was rather loyal to Quarter. The third wouldn't be one that she recognized though...

"Ah, I should probably point out that this one, is in my faction. I don't know him personally so I couldn't tell you if he is the kind of individual that would or would not do something like this. But I assure you, if it comes to light that he has some hand in all of this, I too will make sure he is rightfully handled."

[Cecelia Riddel]

Celia would frown in concern if it wouldn’t lead to wrinkles. She gave a small hum of thought and nodded before looking at Ramses first.

“Thank you, Ramses. I am sure a thorough investigation will be conducted on all of them.” She gave him a sweet smile, trusting but also southern sweet tea sweet before looking at the others.

“And you?” She wondered just how many would be well known or not.

[Dime Price]

"Looks like all factions have a suspect in mind..." which she wasn't sure if that just seemed incredibly fishy or not. "I am up to the task, the sooner I know who I am entrusting my people in the hands of the sooner I can be at ease."

[Jericho]

"When do we start. How will the investigation be implemented." Jericho nearly demanded to know.

[Sir Galahad]

Ramses would bow at Cecilia's thanks. Then he would nod at Jericho's question.

"A far question, but one that is not for me to answer."

He would say as he turned back to Cecilia.

[Cecelia Riddel]

"Me?" The word was practically a squeak. They wanted her input? They didn't have any, themselves beyond "I know them"? That wasn't her job. Cecelia blinked, owl-eyed and silent as she looked at each of them in turn, then back at the papers as if they'd bite her. It was a man's job to lead, or at least know what he was doing. Was this a test, like they mentioned? She hated tests.

Taking a deep breath, still looking at the papers, Celia gave a tiny nod to reassure herself and cleared her throat.

"Well, for starters, I want at least two of you per interview." It was like a social battle, knowing to have a second to verify what was said. But the rest? The rest she was practically wringing her hands over; her fingers were already laced between each other and gripped tightly as she tried to find a way out of this mess.

"Do what you deem is necessary, but keep the violence to a minimum. If you find they're a traitor, bring them in." She looked up, raising her chin. "No killing."

There. That should be enough for them to figure out. Right?

[Dime Price]

"Well, challenge accepted at least. Not that we Zells have not been ones to be the more peaceful of two factions but... If you corner a zell, we have been taught to be prepared to... If we can only take our selves that is first but many of our victories have been won... Simply by taking out so many until they are forced to be killed. Death before surrender and blood before death all the same. That is why we have those like Jericho... The stoic and unfelt have a lot of love and care for their home."

Dime would grin at him a bit proud of her people including Jericho. "No doubt if those are our conditions we will do our utmost to please the Madam, that is a promise. One I'd swear in blood but I fear she'd disapprove. So my word will have to be enough."

[Jericho]

Jericho let Dime finish before he spoke, but in her time of speaking he caught the smile she offered him. His face would respond in such a way that Dime could see he didn't know why she smiled at her. But that was not the issue.

At Dime's closing, he would look at her. "You do not speak for me." The other two would have likely seen it as rude, but based on their history, it was likely that Dime would know he meant no disrespect, just a simple statement of facts. Jericho would turn to Celia to explain. "Your conditions are illogical. I deem physical torture and death to be what's necessary many times, yet you've asked to avoid both. I do not understand why you put unnecessary restrictions on us. Violence is a necessity. Diplomacy can be twisted, manipulated, and full of untruth, without reason. Violence and combat is simpler and universally received equally."

[Sir Galahad]

Ramses would remain silent.

[Cecelia Riddel]

Cecelia tried not to visibly recoil at the mention of a blood oath as Dime mentioned. The rulers of Aurora may have made it work, but she refused. Instead, the little blonde nodded in acceptance of the woman's word. It rankled to be spoken of in such a way, eyes narrowing as Dime referred to her in the third person while she stood before them, but it was Jericho's words that held her attention most and let the reprimand slip away.

Rude, to say the least. She was liking the other man less and less, but it had to be done.

"Diplomacy is what is required," she argued firmly with a frown. "People will say what they think is wanted if they are threatened with enough force of any kind. This land is soaked in enough blood as it is - find a way around it." She squared her shoulders, trying to seem more imposing than she was when all she wanted to do was deflate and close the door behind her on this mess. Her face turned ashen as the blood drained from it.

"As necessary, and not more, sir. No accidents. No dying. Rumors have a way of spreading if someone isn't where they should be." There was no fashionably late status for this. She peeked at Ramses from the corner of her eye.

"Do you have any thoughts to add, Lord Ramses?"