briefing ♔ i will never know myself until i do this on my own

[wynn]

This is War- 30 Seconds to Mars

WHO || Wynn,  Jack, Hasmed, Lis'sa, Dovan, Solace, Koraith, Christos, Tia, Nessa, Grant, Buffy, Myri, Finnick, Spike,  Gar, Archer, Des, Fred Jr., Dumage, Mark, Alainn, Zero, Colin, Lan, Eric, Val'drin, Risa,  Anastacia, Faith O., Max R., Belle, Kadir, Edain, Sydney, Zatanna, Aurelius, Jaina, Erky, Davin,  Riddick, Jordan, Henry, Leia, Willow, Kate, Allison, Francesca, Bo, Han, Aedan, Rocket, Drax, Nathan, Maxwell, Sam, Faith L., Cora, Dimitri, Alanna, Jaime, Klaus, Gus, Andrew, Stiles, Lydia, Gold, Jackson, Adam, Miles, Penelope, David, Derek, Andie, Kali, Cara, Nels, Taradiddle, Abigail, Astrid, Bambi, Frankie, Rose, Helen, Alaric, Alice, Lissa, Alex, Emma F., Cordelia, Zoe,  Sebastian, Malina, Alcide, Phineas, Fiona, Arthur, Faye, Mars, Kate, Lila,  Jameson, Felicity, Thoster, Adi, Brantley, Hook, Emma, Eleven, Alisha, Will, Dean, Grimrot     [Closed]
WHAT || Andres War Briefing
WHERE || Knights HQ, Round Table Room
WHEN || September 19th [forward dated]
HOW || Actionspam. Single thread, please call dibs in the dibs plurk!

On the eve of battle, an impressive array of Knights gathers in the Round Table room of the castle.  The usually cavernous room seems tightly packed with this many bodies, and places at the Table are reserved for Wynn, the Section Heads, all those who have had any hand in the Talisman mission, including New York, and Christos, but who's going to argue with him, really.  The air buzzes with a mixture of impending dread and on some fronts, excitement.  It's hard to deny that there are those in the room who have wanted to make a move on Andres for years.

Wynn waits for the appointed hour, before nodding for the doors to be sealed and calling the meeting to order.  

"Before we begin, I'd like to thank each and every one of you, many who have traveled an extensive distance at a moment's notice to join us here today.  I understand that many of you have little idea what you have agreed to, but I hope that before the end of this meeting, you will come to understand what we are doing, and why it must be done.

Andres' Isle has been held under the sway of the man who calls himself their "Prime Minister" for nearly a decade.  In these ten years, he has turned what was once an idyllic country steeped in tradition into a tightly controlled fascist nation disguised as representative of its people.  

Andres is far from the only country to fall to such a fate over the course of history, and it has never been the prerogative of this Knighthood to enforce our own personal vision of some sort of world order onto any nation.  We are protectors of justice, and our enemy has always been both that which comes from the darkest depths of Shadow, and intolerance and prejudice that stems from this world. 

But Dimitris Sarandis has proven to be an exception, an embodiment of all the ideals we stand against, who has aspired to systematize the kind of violence and hatred that threatens the welfare of countless innocents under his rule.  He has used his position to exploit Shadowkind on the island to the point of conducting torturous experiments on them, designed to help him accomplish his goal of forcibly enslaving non-humans, so that they may serve what he sees as the superior race of homo sapiens.  

As if this were not enough, Dimitris knows of our existence, and wishes to tear down our organization, understanding that we pose a threat to all he seeks to accomplish.  To this end, he has conspired against us, kidnapped members of our organization and subjected them to brutal and vile torture, and attempted to blackmail us through detaining Sir Thomas Bancroft and now Sir Samcelot, into complying with his whims - to leave his regime alone entirely, to turn over our most ancient, powerful artifact, and for me to submit to death at his hand.  

Killing Dimitris alone will not stop the system he has created, and will not help free the people of Andres.  Most citizens of the country remain innocent, terrified into compliance, or completely ignorant of what Sarandis does behind closed doors.  These people deserve our help, and the only way to do so is to show them the evil that lurks at the heart of their government, gain their support in uprooting that evil, and assist them in stabilizing their country thereafter.   

To do this, we will need to go beyond the usual parameters of our missions, with a militant, strategic push into the island designed to seize the castle, and take down Sarandis' rule."   He pauses there, letting that sink in.  "What I will not stand for is a callous attitude towards the innocents who we seek to protect on the Island, during this insurgency.  Their safety will be paramount to our operation, and as such, speed is important to what we will be accomplishing.  Dimitris expects retaliation, but he also underestimates our tactics.  As such, rather than attacking the castle with an army, you will be deployed about the Island in a number of small teams, each with an objective that will help us cut off Dimitris from contact with his supporters, secure Sir Bancroft and Sir Samcelot's safety, free those who are imprisoned, and confront Sarandis, taking the castle in the process.

Details of these individual operations not withstanding, I imagine there are some questions.  I open the floor to you to speak."

Comments

[littledhampir]

[There's an unmistakable flash of guilt in Rose's eyes when they raise to meet Myri's, an apology that despite having no need to make, she very much wants to.

Rose had thought the next times she'd see Myri, she'd be able to give her two important things and standing here now, she felt like she was empty handed, like in some strange way, she was letting her down. (ws 10).]

I - [Most lies fall from her lips with ease but Rose can't even bring herself to try and lie convincingly to her, her own smile mirroring the other woman's, something a little sad, a little broken about it.]

I've been hanging in there. [It was as honest as she could manage without dumping a world of angst in her lap at the worst possible time, honest enough though that Rose didn't feel guilty for trying to deceive her.] You?

[witchwoman]

[Myri's expression shifts almost immediately, as she scans Rose's face, reading the nuances in the things she isn't saying (wis 24). Without answering right away, she reaches out and takes hold of Rose's hand, squeezing lightly.]

I'm... here. That's about all I can really be sure of. [There's been so much that's happened, so much still unknown. That previous wis check is nagging at her, though. And as much as Myri doesn't want to upset Rose so soon before they have to leave, she feels like she has to say something.]

If anyone can find her, I know it will be you. If anyone can bring her home, it will be you. Try to remember that, alright?

[littledhampir]

[Why so many crit fails on Will Saves with Alli's people ;;

There's something so painfully familiar about this moment for Rose, the easy way in which Myri snakes out her hand, the way that squeeze sends a pulse of warmth up her arm that settles in her chest. The last time they'd spoken face to face, Rose had been so engulfed with rage that she could only see death; the want for it, the need for it, the overwhelming desire to kick and scream and tear everything down in the hopes that it might somehow make her feel different - better - anything.

Three months was a long time though, three months with only one end in sight and now that it was here, that it was all within reach she was different for it. She'd been lost three months ago and in so many ways, Rose was still lost now but today she carried a weight on her shoulders, one that might have crippled most women of only twenty.]

It's not that... [Exhaling a shuddering breath as she shakes her head.] I'm just - I wanted to be able to look you in the eyes and promise you that it was over, all of it.

[Because this was about more than just bringing Elena home. This was about Kyp too and if anyone knew that, it was Myri.]

[witchwoman]

Rose... [Realizing just how much responsibility the poor girl had taken onto herself, Myri shakes her head, keeping her grip on Rose's hand and squeezing lightly.]

This isn't for you to solve, not on your own. And the fact that it isn't over? Isn't your fault- no more than the fact that she left at all is mine.

[Myri had blamed herself for that for quite some time, and there were days where she still did feel guilty. In that, she was trying to show Rose that she understood.]

[littledhampir]

[Her eyes lift and this time Rose is more guarded, as if determined not to worry Myri when there's already so many other things for her to worry about (WS 23) but she does take strength from her, from this shared moment and in so many ways, whether Myri knows this or not, standing here with her helps to focus Rose; remind her what she needs to do and why.]

I know. [As if to be reassuring but the message Myri is trying to silently pass is received and accepted with a simple squeeze of her hand.] I just imagined seeing you again a little differently, that's all. Come back and see me tomorrow and maybe I'll be able to do it the way I wanted.

[Trying for a half smile, she shakes her head, as if the act of doing so could push away every expectation, every want and need and meets Myri's gaze, thoughtful, perhaps even a touch concerned.]

Your group. [Lips pressing together.] You're going into the Castle, right?

[witchwoman]

[Both women manage to try to be strong for the other in their own way, causing that feeling to reflect back and multiply. There's a warm feeling that Myri clings to for a moment before nodding along with Rose's question.]

Yes, we're going back to deal with him once and for all.

[Myri had compassion for every living thing- even Kyp to a certain extent. But she had none for Sarandis. Her gaze darkens a little as she speaks on returning to face him with the others.]

[littledhampir]

[Rose's head cants to one side, expression serious yet masked, like she's trying to hide her true thoughts from Myri as she catches that darkening of her face. (WS 16)]

Myri... [It's hesitant, like she's not sure if it's her place to say this and she gives her hand another squeeze as if that might spur her on.]

Don't let him win? [Unsure of her words.] Don't let what happened to you, change who you are.

[She looks almost annoyed, like she's not saying what she wants to and a near frustrated huff pushes air out her nose.]

Tonight, show him you're fighting on the right side by being who you really are. That's all.

[witchwoman]

[Myri glances down, knowing that people continue to be concerned for how her experience with Sarandis and the torture has changed her. And she has changed. She just hasn't decided if it's for better or worse.]

I'll do what I must, what we all must. That's all I can promise for now.

[littledhampir]

[A small frown touches her lips, Rose clearly wanting to say more but a second later, that concern turns to something closer to guilt and she simply shakes her head, squeezing her hand yet again.]

You don't need to make me any promises. [Trying for a small half smile, her voice softer than it usually was.] I just -

[Rose isn't good with words the way others are, not people like Myri or Helen who seem to know exactly what to say without overthinking it. Rose was better with action, always had been, probably always would be but she was trying because, this was one of those things that really mattered.]

I just want you to be okay.

[witchwoman]

I'll be okay once we're all home safe. [Myri says quietly, knowing that it doesn't offer Rose much comfort, but needing to be clear on that.] I am not more important than that. I can't be. We have a chance here to do something incredible, to bring our people home, to free and entire country from tyranny. And once it's done? Then I'll be alright.

[littledhampir]

[Rose regards Myri for a long, quiet moment, eyes reflecting a torrent of thoughts that arced across her brain but she gives voice to none of them, instead nodding her acceptance.]

Okay. [Because she wouldn't argue with Myri, not just because Myri was right in so many ways but for a thousand other reasons that would keep Rose from pushing.]

Anyway - [Shifting subjects to remove the temptation to say more.] I should, probably see what's keeping Dean, make sure we're set to head out but, I'm glad I got to see you.

[witchwoman]

I'm glad as well. Take care, Rose. [Myri tries to offer a smile, tries to see like things are still the same as they were before everything spiraled out of control. But she's not as good at it as she used to be.]

[littledhampir]

[And Rose sees it, the way that smile doesn't quite reach her eyes and while it might be easy to feel sorry for Myri, she doesn't.

She feels anger, anger at those responsible and she gives Myri's hand one last squeeze, straightening as this moment helps to focus her on what lay ahead. Her return to the castle had been an emotionally charged one and it might have been easy for Rose to leave this place scattered, not entirely on task. Not anymore.]

You too. [And all the things she'd been wanting to say didn't seem all that important now. Rose was going to save them for when this was over, when she could make good on the silent promise she'd made herself three months ago.

((And unless Myri has more to say, Rose is going to linger a moment longer before releasing her hand to go find the rest of her team.))]