Fellowship of Animus | First Council of Sages

[sageprincess]

Characters: THE FELLOWSHIP OF ANIMUS aka pretty much everyone
Setting: Floor 38, early afternoon - forward-dated to July 29
Format: Party style - pick your poison
Summary: After repeated delays, Zelda and Gandalf have finally called the populace of the Tower to discuss productive means of dealing with their situation.
Warnings: None yet, will edit should something come up

It's taken far too long to get to this point.

Come Sunday, the various couches and armchairs of the uppermost lounge have been arranged in vaguely semi-circle-like patterns, with chairs from other floors scattered amongst them to increase seating even more. The semi-circles face inwards towards a central point to facilitate discussion among a large group of people. Though this is by no means a party, small slices of Lembas bread are available on tables around the perimeter - though there is no shortage of food, the hungry tend to be less cooperative, all the same.

Outside, the sun shines brightly without a cloud to obstruct it, but the atmosphere inside is much less carefree. Considering the purpose of gathering here this day, it's to be expected. Should this council succeed, it may very well change life in the Tower as everyone knows it. If not, well... one should certainly hope individual efforts begin to bear more fruit than they have in the past.

Comments

PRE-MEETING

[sageprincess]

[Arrive, mingle, discuss your thoughts about all this, etc.]

[justabignobody]

[Another meeting where Riku is pretty much all business only. He is not much one for mingling, but really rather for observing just who else has all been invited into this. Here, there's no reason for him to appoint himself to any kind of guard not that he knows at least, but he likes to keep on edge nevertheless. In a gathering this large, there is always more than one interest after all.

Thus he can be found leaning against the wall somewhere, likely somewhere, where shadows gather, hands stuffed into the pockets of his coat as he watches the arrivals with a light, neutral frown on his face.]

[lyricalmagical]

By and large, Nanoha had kept quiet since her arrival in the Tower. While her power was intact, it was quickly and abundantly clear it wouldn't be getting her out of this place. Not easily. Not when there was the obvious presence of others who wielded their own strength, yet still stuck.

She spent time instead trying to use some of the more subtle skills she had learned in the TSAB. Investigation and subtlety were not really her forte, but it was a necessity.

When she arrived, she did so not trying to draw much attention, still dressed casually. At this point, though, she'd had enough just looking around. She needed to know if something - anything - could be done, and that clearly wouldn't happen with just the actions of an individual.

[capax_infiniti]

Whether he'd be poorly receive or not, Xehanort is definitely there. Any large gathering like this should be monitored after all. There may be something useful to come out of it, or it may simply be another round of posturing... it's difficult to say. The strange being who had given him the invite hadn't been entirely clear on a few facts, which had driven him to come seeking the answers himself.

He simply wanders slowly through the group, taking in everyone around him, making a mental list of everyone he sees there.

[sorewahimitsudesu]

Xellos, to those that knew him - and thus far to his knowledge, not many people did - was not exactly the most trustworthy sort. To those that didn't know him, he didn't look trustworthy either.

Either way, he walked in as if he didn't have a care in the world. This had the potential to be very important, and well... He wasn't going to start anything so long as no one else did.

...

Probably.

[fusedstars]

Hei arrived early, as usual. It was always the best time to scout others, learn more about his fellow prisoners/possible allies. The more knowledge he had, the better the situation could turn out, if he used his head correctly. Recently, with Lucy and events regarding the facility, such well-placed thoughts using his knowledge had fallen through. He wouldn't make the same mistake though, he couldn't afford to.

Right now, what mattered was getting everyone out of here, and learning the truth, even though he had a really good idea as to what had happened. If the memories of his own and the original served anything, they had proven that one must expect the unexpected, so even theories, no matter how well thought out, could be proven wrong.

One thing was for certain however: those scientists needed to be stopped.

And so there he was, leaning against the wall and eyeing those that attended.

[worldrestored]

[Who felt really out of place here? This guy. This guy wearing no shirt and coming in to see what was going on. At least he could perhaps learn a thing or two...

Anyone want to attempt speaking to him?]

[sageprincess]

[Having been one of the ones to set everything up, Zelda is already floating around the edges of the room by the time others begin to trickle in. Perhaps she should be on greeting duty, but... honestly? She's rather exhausted already. The others can handle that, right?

And so she can be found standing off to the side, quiet and obviously in deep thought as she mentally goes over what needs to be said and done. Nervous, her? Never.]

[the_white_rider]

[ Gandalf is present early on, probably one of the first as he is one of the founding member. Needless to say, he is very satisfied that this meeting finally can happen after all that has happened, what everyone has been through. In spite of this all, there is still enough hope for people to gather and work together. And he is particularly very proud of all those who had made it a reality.

So for now the white wizard will be near the entrance, until the meeting itself starts, seemingly using his staff to help him stand and walk, smiling and nodding to people coming in. ]

[faithstaynight]

[Jeanne had not hesitated one bit when Zelda told her about the group she was trying to get together, and it was good to see that they were gathering so soon. She wanted to meet the others, those who were offering their assistance in finding a way out of this prison, and so she had arrived pretty early.

She waited patiently, though, for the others to arrive. The Servant was standing by the glass wall, clad in her casual clothes rather than her armor, staring aimlessly up at the nearby clouds...]

[great_king_of_evil]

[ Oh, the Evil King most definitely knows he is not welcome to this meeting, a meeting organized by Princess Zelda. That is why he adorns a disguise. That is why he has changed his overall appearance. He isn't stupid though, he hasn't made a disguise anyone from his homeworld can recognize. Even if someone from an alternate reality has seen his alter-ego...

He wears black robes, covering most of his face- That probably shall not be a problem in this reunion where so many people wear similar black clothes. What little of his face can be seen, he looks like a young man, a normal human. The skin color, the features- All is different from Ganondorf. Even his aura, he's blocking it thanks to the Triforce, as hard as it is.

Why did he come? Curiosity most likely. And if ever an occasion arises to cause trouble and havoc in this group... For now "Mirenon", as is his new name, just stands discreetly, awaiting for the reunion to begin. ]

[technologic]

[It was curiosity that lead April to attending this meeting, and she did want to learn more about the tower.

So she'll be leaning against the wall and curiously watching everyone else who had attened, having still not found much confidence to actually approach people in crowds just yet.]

[cullscuttlefish]

[Feferi's here, and as hard as it's been, she still has a smile for everyone. She's interested to meet more of the people that are here, and share ideas.]

[notontheflowers]

Rusty's in his suit, standing near the sidelines and watching the crowd. Whether it's for something or someone in particular isn't clear, he may also just be tired.

He's taking mental notes on the attendees, those he knows and those he thinks could be helpful.

ACCIDENTAL ARRIVALS /drags Fou-Lu in

[brokenstove]

[...welp. Mami was just exploring and deciding to go to the lounge because it's been a long day, and now there's some kind of meeting on.

She looks around nervously, not quite getting what's going on - well, she couldn't, she hasn't quite figured out the network yet, after all.

And yet this could still be a good thing.]

Wha' in th' worl' be this...?

[bleh_heh_heh_bleck]

[Bleck flipped silently into the meeting, the Dark Prognosticus flipping with him. He regarding the gathering with a curious eye, holding his scepter tightly. The Count could honestly care less about the "situation" that each person here considered so terrible. To him, the last surviving member of the Tribe of Darkness, this wasn't so terrible. He had wanted his world, the dimensions connected to it, to die. To be pulled into the Void and he had wanted to go with it.

But... He was curious. The Dark Prognosticus wasn't clear on details here that he wished that it was.]

[evokingfool]

[Despite the troubles caused by both him and the other Minato, the SEES leader still come for the meeting. He won't let what happened make him yield and hide his face.

His red SEES armband proudly displayed on his left arm, he arrives and look around.]

[moontothetide]

[Tara does not look well. There are bruise-like circles under her eyes, and she's nursing the remains of a nosebleed. Anyone who speaks with her will find her voice raw and hoarse, and the first thing she does upon entering the room is find a chair and rest her head on her knees.

But she's brought a notebook and a pencil. She's gone to class feeling worse before and still managed a halfway decent grade. This probably won't be that much different. Occasionally, she lifts her head enough to jot a few things down.]

[warriorscribe]

*Enoch had said he would invite someone who might be able to help, and that he had, inviting Solas Griene to join him. He seems tired, coming through the door. Not sleepy, but very much a man who has lived too long, too much, with the smallest hint of hope in his eyes.

They had planned something like this at Meridian, too...*

[temptestament]

*After a brief stop to talk to Zelda, 'Justin' is now standing somewhat off to the side himself, watching the new arrivals. Anyone who's immune to illusions or mental tampering will see him as a slightly tall man in a brown cape and mask with a violet collar, but most will see him as he wants to be seen, with a green collar instead. The illusion is thorough, and even his power is distorted to seem weaker and different.*

MEETING

[sageprincess]

Once a majority of the people in attendance have arrived, it's time to begin. Taking a steeling breath, Zelda makes her way to the focal point of their makeshift meeting area, forcing herself to look less nervous than she actually is. It's just a little public speaking, right? And it's not like she hasn't been practicing whenever she's gotten the chance...

Raising an arm above her head, she summons a shining ball of light to her palm. Those sensitive to magic might sense it's divine origin, those who are not will simply see it glowing brightly like a beacon. Either way, it's enough to call attention to herself.

"If I may have your attention, please," Zelda calls out over the din of the crowd, "I would like to call this council into session."

When she's certain she has the focus of the room, she lowers her arm, the magic vanishing as she does.

"First, I must thank you all for your time. It has taken us far longer than we had expected to reach this point, but we are grateful that disillusion with this effort has not set in, despite the time it has taken.

That said, we are all aware of the vast number of mysteries this place has presented us with - mysteries the administrators have explicitly refused to enlighten us on. How were we brought here, what is the true status of our worlds, and so on. Uncovering the truth to these questions should be our greatest priority, and is by far the main reason we have gathered everyone today.

However, this Tower also presents us with many dangers in the form of gruesome monsters, trap floors, the administrators themselves, and, unfortunately, others who have been brought here as well. Until a more permanent solution can be found, we must make defense against these dangers a priority as well. Even if death is not permanent here, the effects it has on the mind make it something that should still be avoided."

Something she knows from personal experience, that. After a brief pause to let all that sink in, she continues.

"With those thoughts in mind, I now open the floor for discussion."

And, taking her seat, she almost feels like she can breathe again.

[ooc; Since having one long discussion thread would be impractical, I figured each issue could be divided into subthreads of this post, like so. Just make a new subthread each time you want your character to bring something up! Threadjacking is to be expected and encouraged!]

On the topic of break-ins...

[attheclocktower]

Oh man she wasn't sure she could do this. She really, really wasn't sure. How was she supposed to talk in front of all these people? What if they didn't listen to her? What if they thought she was being ridiculous? She would be the first to admit there were some problems with what she wanted to say but...

She remembered waiting. Waiting and hearing the worst. How upset Shion had gotten upon finding out that Reno had died.

She stood up.

"A..." She was so nervous, it came out as whisper. She swallowed and tried again. "A-a couple of times... recently, some people have tried to break in to... to different parts in the Tower. For good reasons!" she added hurriedly, hoping to not offend any in her audience, "But both times... everyone died. So... I think we need to try to find something different."

She swallowed again, closing her eyes tightly, "Even if our friends are getting hurt..." It was almost painful for her to say. Sora was one of the people in the labyrinth, as were Yu, and Link, and the other Riku. "Or they stop running the Tower again... If they just kill us for even trying, there's no point-" She was getting emotional, this wasn't going the way she wanted it to. She cuts herself off, takes a deep breath, and tries again.

"I'm not saying we shouldn't try to help our friends. Or ourselves. But... there has to be a different way. And we should try to find it."

Her piece said, she sat down, pulling her hood up over her bowed head and not daring to meet anybody's eyes.

Gathering information on the tower...

[capax_infiniti]

Surprisingly, Xehanort stands up, giving a slightly formal bow to those assembled.

"Finally, a gathering with more than an ounce of sense. The need to focus on escape clouds the judgment of everyone and lends them to doing foolish things. Is there not a great mystery here, in front of us?" His arms sweep up, gesturing grandly as he continues. "There are better things to do than pine after worlds lost in whatever fashion has befallen them. It is imperative to understand this place we have found ourselves in. Perhaps a small group focused on the study of the whys and hows of this place, a network of those so researching and learning so that we can truly know what it is we are dealing with and share information quickly and efficiently. A group who can archive and compile what information is learned so that it is readily accessible."

With that said, he bows once more and sits down, yellow eyes scanning the room carefully.

On the topic of the bad guys in the Tower...

[pengeen]

[Kidou had been quiet for quite sometime, thinking over what Zelda had said. There were a lot of issues in the Tower, as previously stated, but there was one issue that he couldn't keep quiet about.

The boy rises from his seat and clears his throat before speaking up.]

Princess, you previously stated that not only do we have to worry about monsters and traps and other potentially dangerous things, but we have to worry about others who were brought here in the tower, as well. [His gaze shifts to the others sitting at the table behind his goggles]

I might be a little naive, but I think we should try proposing a truce with the villains of this tower. If we can get them to agree, then we'll have more people to help find out more about the tower and eventually find out how to leave.

They'll want to join forces if it means getting out of this place quicker, wouldn't they?

POST-MEETING

[sageprincess]

[So, how did it go? Talk about the results of the council amongst yourselves!]

[childhero]

[Link... is quiet. He's always quiet, but this time, it's different. This time, it's... subdued. Honestly, he's just lingering in the room after the meeting. He's standing near the door, not looking directly at anyone. He doesn't know why he hasn't left yet.

... he should just go.]