RP:Clearing The Air

Part of the Dissonance Theory Arc

This is a Warrior's Guild RP.

Summary: Kasyr and Krice discuss Lionel, the guild, and Quintessa.

Vigilanti Semper, Venturil

Kasyr has no idea what's he's doing. Well, perhaps at large it can be argued he has an agenda of sorts- a nebulous idea of what needs to be killing, and the mental equivalent of a conspiracy board for how to go about doing it- but in the current moment, he's quite lost. In part, it's because he has yet another office that needs caretaking. "I should...probably just box all this stuff. Yeah." There's an unpleasent feeling associating with rifling through a comrades things, even despite the fact that he'd been essentially given Lionel's blessing in taking over the place. "I mean- I should read the papers, see if there's anything pertinent." ...Gods, but if his notes were written anything like his official letters- that meant there was semi god odds there'd be some things written in a semi-journalesque manner- apt to unveil all sorts of personal thoughts. "Ugh." UGH. "Well, no time like the present." This isn't the first time he's said this. It was a sentiment he echoed after the recent warrior guild meeting, and again this afternoon. But Tonight- the Kensai really means it. He's going to start packing everything and then- "...Ugh- I should just hire someone from the mages guild, and get this place linked to my offices there and in Vailkrin. Just, a doorway from here straight to th..." Wait, that really would make travelling convenient. "...I should still box his stuff, though." With a sigh, the Kensai -finally- starts to get the process underway. It's going to be a long night.

Krice didn't say anything while Kasyr lamented the state of the office. He was standing in the doorway, listening not to the monologuing Kensai but to the Keep itself, to the sounds of other people who were present - his senses attuned to particular signatures of life that would tell him if he was in safe company. Perhaps more specifically, to be sure that naughty minds weren't listening to -him- through flapping ears. Maybe Kasyr detected his approach, silent as it was, or maybe he saw the warrior come in. Whatever the case, the enigma remained quiet until convinced that only Kasyr would be able to hear him.

Kasyr is fairly difficult to hide from, in part due to years of honed paranoia, but mostly because he was an empath, and very few individuals had any sort of protection against that sort of thing. It was, honestly, one of the major reasons that the Kensai hadn't succumbed to the various assassination attempts aimed at him over the years. That said- this heads up didn't do much to adjust the swordsmans behaviour, even with an awareness that he now had an audience. All it meant is that he stood a little bit straighter, and waved a hand over towards the door. Not so much as an dismissive gesture, as much as to send an errant spark from his fingers into the metal bits of it, in order to effectively nudge it shut behind Krice. That out of the way, the Kensai simply went back to futzing with boxes, seemingly at ease. "I hate this, you know? Clearing this out feels so final, even though I was told he wasn't dead."

Krice's emotions were in check; Kasyr's empathy would find only hints of heightened awareness. Otherwise, the enigma seemed as enigmatic internally as he was outwardly, content and difficult to read. He had never been overly expressive. His gold-streaked eyes drifted to Kasyr's raised hand purely by movement drawing his focus, but he did not follow the magical zap to the door behind him as it closed. After sparing the room a thoughtful glance, he said to the other male, " So what's going on with him, then? Anyone know?"

Kasyr pauses in the midst of filing away some memoribilia, trying not to think overly hard on the significance or attached emotions of any of it. "I was led to believe it was some sort of...existential crisis. Trauma catching up with him. The weight of the world finally sinking in and grinding him down." There's a pause as the Kensai begins nudging the box over to a wall, the assorted items provoking enough Heebies & Jeebies from Kasyr to turn his attention towards the assortment of notes that laid on the desk. Some of these would no doubt be pertinent, and other elements would likely be strewn in the desk. "I wonder if he left any notes -for- me, if he expected me to just take command. That'll be awkward if he dated things -assuming- I'd already kicked in the place and made it all home-like." There's a pause the Kensai turning to face Krice properly, his arms lifting up so he can clap his hands together, before dramatically spreading them apart, as though he might frame an image between his fingers, "Dear Kasyr- Time is of the essence. Sure was good of you to vandalize my office promptly, before the place got cold. Here's a list of time sensitive things you need to do, so everyone doesn't die." The flagrant sarcasm that emanates from his mouth is scathing. "...Calice." He collapses his hands together again, if only to run them back through his hair, "But I digress. You came here- pretty late-like to chat, and with little warning, so I'm assuming it's personal business, n'est ce pas?"

Krice listened attentively as Kasyr spoke of Lionel's departure from world events, his expression softening slightly with hints of understanding. The warrior himself had been through decades of battle; if not for Talyara, he'd be a husk, a shell of a man working on skill alone, not living, barely existing. At any rate, Kasyr's sarcastic ramblings drew the warrior from his empathetic thoughts to focus on the Kensai once more. A moment after his comrade's query as to his late-night visit, Krice hoped to reassure him, " No one's dead." Far as he knew. " I'm here to talk about the guild. Got a questionable person or two in it."

Kasyr can't help but blink a bit at the statement Krice makes, a quizzical look crossing his features. "I didn't . . ." Oh, was that a 'I'm behaving and didn't proactively stab Quintessa to death' type statement. Or more of a 'Think on the bright side, no fresh funerals'? The swordsmans face screws up again, a fresh wave of irritation rippling through him, which only grows more pronounced when Krice decides to question the current roster. It takes all his willpower not to offer the other a swordsman a cookie for his restraint. "...Yeah. Yeah, it does. And you got stuck with one running the show, to boot. That said- it's not me you're talking about, n'est ce pas?" That said, the swordsman finally decides now's the time to take a seat, before gesturing across the desk table, "Take a seat. Stay a while."

Krice unwittingly let loose a tiny spark of irritation that only an empath would be able to sense, and only an experienced one such as Kasyr would be able to decipher. He and Quintessa had a soured history, to put it mildly. " I'm not talking about you," he said, hoping to reassure the Kensai. Upon invitation to sit across from him at the table, the warrior glanced at the empty chair but ultimately opted to remain standing. Looking toward the other swordsman, he continued, " The brat who plays with dead things. She's not trustworthy."

Kasyr is trying his best to maintain a poker face, but there's a certain difficulty inherant in that, given that he wound up predicting the incredibly unpleasent way this conversation wound up within a record amount of time. But he manages. If only because he decides to vent all his irritation in a singular exasperated sigh. "I could have guessed. Here's my question- What's your suggestion, especially given that last I checked." There's a pause here, the swordsman reaching over to grab an assortmment of papers that he'd haphazardly stacked at the corner of the desk. "Last I... checked. Et allow moi to double check." The pages are glanced over, scrutinized, and then tilted over just enough that it can be discerned it's the guild roster. "Last I checked you weren't actually a member of the warrior guild- so it seems curious you're playing at barracks master." Yeah, the snark isn't really abating here. "Especially when we are currently navigating an end of the continent scenario. Which- I -didn't- mention this at the meeting to avoid panicking everyone when I sent orders. But. We're already past the due date. We should already all be on the way to dying right now. So, forgive me if I'm a little short on patience, when I'm trying to organize everyone and rush together -some- semblance of order with what forces we -do- have, so we don't just -die-." This might also be an indication that 'attempts at Vigilante Juistice won't be tolerated'. Plausibly.

Krice regarded Kasyr coolly. What little irritation had been viable in his demeanor to the empath was gone now, and he stood a blank slate, unreadable. Perhaps more disconcerting. He was well aware of the dangers that everyone face, well aware that he had no right to ask anyone to get rid of anyone else. However, he gave voice to his point in his next statement, spoken concisely. " Don't put her with me. I still have half a mind to slice her head off." Lifting a shoulder in a dismissive shrug, the enigma added, " Do whatever you want with her, and with the other members, as long as they don't endanger what I'm trying to do." For everyone, it went without saying.

Kasyr supposes that on some level he should appreciate the warning- especially given that one of the last times they'd talked, the kensai had acknowlged Krice was one of the few individuals capable of acting upon an impulse within fractions of when it had formed. That said, in execution, this winds up feeling more like a cold comfort. "I'm well aware there's little love lost between you two. It's also why I asked you to act independantly. As much as we benefit from her research- I wasn't expecting you to gallivant off to the wilderness with her, arm in arm." As much as the mental image was grimly hilarious. "That said- So long as the fate of the realm es at stake, I do expect you to act professionally. Maybe she'll redem herself before the day is done. Maybe not, and you'll feel the need to air your grievances when the dust settles. We'll deal with that -then-." A pause, and the Kensai can't help but ask, "Does that elven tribe you played Diplomat with have any insight on matters? If not, I -think- I might be able to provide you a small list of places to check up on. Which- might give us a relative timeline for, well, how much time we -actually- have left." Here's hoping, anyways.

Krice didn't seem particularly taken with Kasyr's tone, but these two were not enemies. Especially while so grave a threat loomed over the entire realm. " I haven't seen them, yet," was his response regarding the elves. " I had other professional things to do." Was that a dig? Maybe a tiny one. Nodding to the papers around the area, uncertain as to where this list would come from, Krice asked, " Lemme see it. I'll get what the lab-girls need."

Kasyr doesn't really seem to acknowledge the dig. The idea that everyone is juggling multiple world ending disasters has, by this point, become almost natural to the Kensai- which is probably fairly telling about his overall awareness of just how -utterly- awful the actual state of Lithrydel is. That, or just underlies a deepset paranoia and soul-crushing depression. Whichever. "Anyways- I've been going over the notes he'd essentially made after the trip to the island, and like he mentioned at the funeral- there's a -llist- of villages and Hamlets that Xicotl's forces were going to obliterate before they hit Frostmaw. Initially, it was going to be in 2 months time from the funeral. That hasn't happened- in part due to his et Rilla's efforts prior to his most recent departure." The Kensai's all business now, his finger darting over a map to highlight each of the areas, before finally pointing off at Frostmaw- which lends credence to his criticism of Kreekitaka's area devastating strategem. "Your job es to find out which areas have already been struck- given that'll essentially serve as an indicator of how much time we have left, ou if areas that -weren't- on this list have been attacked. It let's us know if our information is even useful anymore." There's a pause, and then the Kensai winces. "I should also mention. You -should- expect overwhelming forces. He mentioned that Xicotl had thousads upon thousands of thralls.That whole last stand plan? It would likely come apart at the seams from sheer numbers alone- which es why figuring out weaknesses es so goddamn imperative, et why we can't afford to precipitate it into coming after us before we're ready." It's only now that the Kensai begins to rub at his forehead, 'I'm not going to lie- Your standing orders aren't to try and save the villages that get hit. With those sort of odds, it's -just- to get as many warm bodies captured as you can, in order to for us to have a chance at the next stop. So- Don't take any unnecessary risks. Even if this means you'll need to watch a town fall. If you can Evacuate people discreetly, do it. But, don't endanger the operation."

Krice finally stepped forward, purely because the angle of the map was too sharp from the door to glean all the details. Once he could see all edges of the towns and villages in question, he paused, well outside Kasyr's reach, to peruse it and listen. There was a hint of apprehension in the warrior as a result of considering that he would need to let whole towns fall for the greater good. That was something anyone with good intentions preferred to avoid, but... Bigger picture. " Fine," he said, no hesitation present in his behaviour. Gold-streaked eyes shifted to meet the troubled pair of the kensai. " Thousands of thralls. More opportunity." Clearly he wasn't bothered by the numbers. " As many bodies as possible. Make sure the brat has something to store them in when I bring 'em back." After a momentary pause, the enigmatic swordsman added, " And keep your head. The future is already re-written by virtue that Frostmaw still stands. We have a chance to secure it."

Kasyr allows Krice time to process what he was seeing, and to reply to the morally dubious request he'd been given. It's only after the Enigma provides his consent that the swordsman pulls out a piece of paper from the desk and begins to scribble out the names of the towns and villages- in relative order. "There are some communicators left over from Lionels tenure. I believe you have one. If you locate an attack in process, let moi know. It might also be good to report in- if you think you might need help extricating anyone, without tipping off the main forces. Otherwise, simply keep me abreast of whatever towns and villages have already been annihilated- and if you learn of any locations that have been wiped out that -don't- belong on this list." The kensai pauses in the midst of his morbid request, his brow wracked in concentration. "Depending on the severity of the attack, and the location- I might be able to give the go-ahead to an intervention, at the very least to try and hamper Xicotl's attempts at gathering further reinforcements." ...This is some pretty specific wording, Kas. But, it's probably fine, right? Spoilers: It's really not.

Krice breathed in a calm breath as he took the piece of paper from Kasyr. He wasn't afraid of battle, or even of his own death. What feared him most was the suffering and death of those for whom he cared. A memory flashed across his mind's eye, of his foretold death leading to the death of the elf so prominently in his life. It caused his brow to twitch, a pang of sorrow breaking through his composure only fleetingly before he reigned it in. After taking a moment to consider Kasyr's mention of the 'communicator', he said, " I need another one." He had discarded the first one before even departing the last meeting between the guild members. That was a tumultuous time. " Is there a way for me to communicate with only you?"

Kasyr grimaces at the mention of needing another one, though- he at least wasn't hard pressed to find one. He was, after all, sitting at the Guild Leader's table. His table. Such a weird feeling. "Yeah- I, just. I didn't even really use these things- so give me a second." Krice isn't the only one with a penchant for being a bit of a loner. There's an awkward minute or two of the Kensai rifling through the drawers, setting aside a fresh stack of papers to one side of the desk, and the occasional knick knacks. Finally, he get's what he's looking for, with a small array of the things stuck at the back of a drawer. Probably for covert missions. "This will probably work. it might take some tuning to just contact moi. J'en sais pas." It'll be science. It's fine. "I don't know, maybe try thinking really hard about me before using it. ...That, or talk to one of the supply managers to see if they have a better idea. I'm still trying to figure out all the logistics." Promising.

Krice stood silently and waited with all the patience in the world, completely belying the doom that -should- have filled him at the prospect of losing his girl to very literal world-ending destruction. Actually, he felt quite hopeful. Warriors needed something to do, and now he had that. While Kasyr rummaged around the items in the office in search of another communicator, the enigma turned to glance past his left shoulder at the opposite wall, at the piles of papers and items in various states of 'packed'. When Kasyr spoke, those crimson eyes were upon him once more. As he reached out for the item, his left brow twitched inward and he asked, " 'Think of you'? Sounds a little airy-headed." Certainly not scientific. Nodding to the drawer from whence Kasyr had procured the communicator, the warrior asked, " Got any others? I can do some tests on my way around the world."

Kasyr blinks a bit, glancing off towards the communicators that still remained in the draw. At a glance, they looked identical, so any functionality was apt to be identical between them. "I think one ought to suffice, vraiment. If there are differences in function- one of the suppy sergeants would know more. But, for the moment- well. You have your orders. Et at this juncture, I've more than impressed that time es of the essence. Just, keep me posted- et I'll do my best to act accordingly based on the information we have." The kensai's already trying redirecting his attention towards filing the new bits of office detritus he's fished out of the desk. Clearly, he's decided matters are attended to, unless Krice has something else to bring up.

Krice studied Kasyr quietly. One communicator would have to suffice, then. Talking to a supply sergeant on his way out seemed prudent. " I'm doing this because it needs to be done," He politely corrected. Not because he was ordered to. As Kasyr had so readily told him from the top, he wasn't part of the guild - and thus, was not subject to the rules as actual members were. Still, they were working toward the same goal; saving the world, saving the people on it, and existing safely post-Xicotl. Turning, the warrior readied himself to depart, offering the Kensai a nod of farewell. He'd close the door again after exiting, allowing Kasyr some privacy to sort through the former leader's things.