(II) Briefing

108 (II) BriefingAdam went over a few things everyone already knew about, or at least that Shiv already knew about. How their initial infiltration and destabilization of Gate Theborn was highly successful. How they managed to establish contact with Leu, find a safe house, and continue their subversive efforts. How everything was going well until they ran into the Educator. Then, details were given about the chaos that followed. Everyone agreed that the System was demented for letting them be attacked by what was functionally a vessel for a deity.

Then, they covered the First Blood and Aviary assault that came after and just made everything worse. That wasn’t even touching too deeply on the ugliest surprise of all: the Recollector, and the destruction that followed.

"And that concludes the general and overall summary," Adam finished. Then he took a step to the side, and he pointed at the item at the top of his board. It was titled , and there were several other items below it as well. Items related to her tome, her sacred phylactery specifically, and her association with the Agents of Aviary. This item was connected to item two.

However, a line was drawn between the Educator and Aviary, rather than the Educator and the First Blood. And those two items remained disconnected altogether from the third issue they had to deal with: the Inquisition. So far, the Inquisition, from what Adam could glean, was directing the Educator, but it seemed that they didn't really know her true nature either. As such, things were getting confusing, not only for Shiv and company, but likely for the Inquisition and the other Ascendants as well.

, Shiv said to himself.

"Thus far, we know very little about the Educator, aside from a few critical facts. First," Adam said, "is that she is effectively some kind of vessel or anchoring organism for a forgotten Ascendant, so she claims. Whatever it is, it was godlike, and it nearly trapped us within her tome."

At that, Valor placed the badly burnt book on one of the tables. To Shiv's relief and interest, they didn't specifically talk about how the tome got burned.

"Within this tome are recordings and paintings, illustrations of the past. I believe that the Ascendants have done something to affect the collective memory of those who live in the Republic, or perhaps even the surface as a whole." Saying this made Adam swallow. It was like he was drinking bitter medicine. Shiv knew that the Gate Lord was still a patriot at heart, but with all the things he'd uncovered, it was likely shaking his confidence in the Republic itself. How could it not? A City Lord, his fiancée's father no less, was a major player in the plot to betray and murder both Roland Arrow and the Starhawk’s, along with a Council member themselves.

"With the tome destroyed," Adam continued, "the Educator was eliminated. However, I do not think that she, or whatever it actually is, has been removed from the field entirely. I suspect she will return in the near future, and we will have to deal with her again."

This wasn't so much for the Umbrals or Weaveresses in the room. He was looking at Shiv and then turned to Uva when he finished speaking. Shiv still felt an itch on the left side of his body. Thanks to Adam's light, he was healing much faster than before, but still, soul wounds were a bitch to get rid of.

"A second critical fact is her association with Aviary itself," Uva said. She had her arms behind her back and briefly looked at Null Mont. “From the information provided by the Owl we captured, it seemed that this alliance between the Educator and Aviary was formed nearly three full years ago. This has been in the planning for quite some time. More importantly, something had been promised to Aviary: Starhawk's Perch."

Not for the first time, Shiv's Biomancy felt Adam's body tense dramatically. The Gate Lord's muscles were bunched up and on the verge of bursting into action. Starhawk's Perch was more than just some Sacred Phylactery; it was his home. And it was the main reason why Blackedge was truly still standing. It allowed his father to commune with and channel the Starhawk's power.

Losing it to Aviary wouldn't just be catastrophic for the Republic as a whole, but also for Adam personally. "Additionally, connected to that, we've also discovered that other sacred relics had been collected and stored at Starhawk's Perch." Uva paused. "We don't know exactly what sacred relics these are. However, what is certain is that there may be a grander conflict brewing within the Republic itself."

A Weaveress held up a single finger, and Adam nodded at her, letting her speak. "This is all troubling, but what do the internal matters of surface nation conflict have to do with us?"

"It has to do with you because Aviary is in league with the First Blood as well," Adam said, and that led him into the second point. "As the Educator has connections to Aviary and was using them to further her own ends, Aviary is using the First Blood as their primary vehicle in the Abyss, at least for this operation. They came raiding the gate, expecting to take it easily. I suspect that the Educator was meant to subdue and secure Confriga, along with the Outsider hidden in his sword, to make their conquest a quick and easy one."

Valor flipped through the Educator's tome, and on one of the pages, though badly burned, everyone could see an entity with a hand for a head and many eyes trailing across its body. It resembled the Recollector close enough to demonstrate that the Educator likely had the capability to capture an Eldritch entity as well.

"However, there was one thing they did not account for," Adam said. He straightened his back as he spoke his final word, "Us. We arrived, and we intercepted the Educator first."

Shiv coughed loudly at the Gate Lord’s , and Adam paused. "Well, technically, we were spying on her, and then she engaged with us. We went over this in detail, but due to special circumstances, we managed to eliminate her and break her binds to this material dimension. We suspect that the First Blood, meanwhile, was also promised something substantial for their service. Perhaps a Sacred Phylactery of their own. To openly try to seize a gate this way holds significant risks, risks that aren't worth taking without a significant reward. And that leads to what I suspect to be their target destination: Blackedge."

"The Quest reward the vampires would have gotten would have allowed them to besiege Blackedge on the side of Vicar Sullain. Additionally," Adam drew a new line between the First Blood and the Inquisition, finally, "this would place them on the same side as the Inquisition, for at least rogue aspects within the Inquisition are en route to aid and assist the vicar's forces in seizing Blackedge. Originally, they were due to receive an Animancy Core as well."

Adam held up Master-Adviser Oldsmith's sync letters in front of everyone. "I have been exchanging communications under the guise of Master-Adviser Oldsmith. Inquisitor Sijik is en route to Blackedge, and they are expected to arrive in three to five days."

Shiv did a double-take at that. This was new information for him as well.

Adam's expression was grave, but he also looked determined. "He brings with him a rapid response force of one hundred thousand Pathbearers, supported by mercenary contingents. They are not coming from the capital. Rather, they are going to take a route into Lone Star border territory before coming back over through the south. We suspect this is to confuse and divert attention from their exact actions. We don't know how deep the compromise in the Republic goes, but I do suspect that there is a reason why they are keeping their actions circumspect. Even so, we are unsure about the exact nature of the conflict between the Ascendants.”

Part of that sounded like hope on Adam's part, and Shiv got it. Fighting one god was already a pretty miserable experience. Fighting twelve or so? , he thought to himself,

"And with these three priority threats established, our first goal now is to reach and survey the situation around Blackedge." Adam paused as he processed his own thoughts for a moment, gathering himself. "I do not know what the condition of my hometown is. When I was saved by the Starhawk, he said my father was still fighting, but that he was flagging. For weeks, he has endured the siege, but I do not know just how dire their circumstances are. I tell you this now because, should we be able to establish a logistical or even a spatial route to Blackedge, I intend to evacuate those wounded or incapable of fighting to this gate. But aside from that, we also have a secondary objective that might become a priority in a short time, depending on what I receive from these letters."

"The Inquisition?" Uva asked.

"They must be delayed," Adam replied. "Blackedge is already pressed to its limits by Sullain alone. Starhawk's Perch has many defenses, but should even more forces join the fray, and forces from the Republic that might understand how the intricacies of the Perch work no less…" Adam didn't finish that. He shook his head. "We cannot allow it. It's too grave a risk."

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

He walked over to the other side of the board and pointed to the next list of items. "We have our two current priority objectives. The first is a scouting run that will be conducted by me and Shiv later." He looked through the room. Before they could respond or voice any doubts, Adam held up a hand. "I will remain close to the gate. I will not depart far. This run will mainly be conducted by Shiv. I will monitor him and I will see what gets lured out along his path."

"But," Null Mount said, sounding slightly uneasy, "would that not lead certain threats back in our direction? Or worse, risk Pathbearer Shiv being captured by the adversary?" Shiv frowned slightly. Was Null Mount trying to express care for him in thanks for what he offered her just now?

"There are risks to all actions," Adam said, "especially inaction. Choosing to do nothing is also a choice. However," Adam let out a slight breath, "I do concede the point. There are dangers involved, and that's why I'm warning you now. However, I think we are past the point of avoiding danger."

He briefly pointed far below the Inquisition item. And there at the very bottom was where the words 'Lord Scorn' were written, with several question marks behind them. "We still have an issue with the Vulketh Gateway. I'm trying to find a way to shift its dimensionality and potentially connect it to some other place. Should I be unable to do so, however, in a month, I expect to face an invasion of Vulketh as well."

"Yeah, and I think that we're going to have vampire problems soon too," Shiv added. "The First Blood was invading Compact territory. There are no active Compact patrols with Gate Theborn basically destroyed. The only reason why we probably don’t have more vampires here right now is because I stole a Court Leviathan from them and basically butchered the remainder of an entire court after their main army died trying to take this place. But this isn’t going to last. We’re going to be attacked sooner or later.”

But then Shiv balled his hands into fists. “Unless we hit them first. That’s my recommendation. We give them more problems and raid their territory before they can organize anything and come here.”

“I concur,” Uva said. Shiv was surprised at that. But she kept going. “We don’t have the forces or resources to endure an active struggle. So it would be best for us to stun the enemy further, however we can. Aggressive raids and skirmishes will buy us some more time to recover and build up.”

"Right," Shiv said. "But in the meantime, if you're going to be moving out, don't expect to be moving in safe and secure territory. Use stealth, move in groups, and…" Shiv paused. "Defend. Building up defenses like Uva said. We need an actual force here…”

The Challenger is watching.

Shiv snarled internally.

The Challenger is chuckling.

"And that is another priority, though secondary," Adam said, pointing at the board. "We've inherited something of a small treasury from raiding Confriga's personal vault, but it will not be enough. Between rebuilding this gate, trying to find support for Blackedge, potentially through hired mercenaries and whatnot, we will be stretched for funds and resources. So that will be something else we have to face. But forces and defenses are a necessity. Make no mistake, we are extremely System-favored. Shiv, more than any of us, and so long as you are with him, you will experience conflict the likes of which you can’t imagine.”

Shiv gave a grunt of affirmation. Some of the Umbrals and Weaveresses looked uneasy, but none of them raised any true complaints.

"Still, this gate is the closest thing to a reliable sanctuary we have. Aside from Weave, that is, but Weave is also under threat. Should we have failed to contain the vampire invasion, another result would have been them launching a counter-attack on Weave in retribution for your raid a few weeks ago. I suspect they will try doing that at some point anyway, though their position might be worse now with an entire court lost." And so, Adam moved back over to his action items. "We have a list of immediate operations and situations to resolve. First is the scouting run. This will happen in the next few hours once Penitent Can Hu finishes a final act of reforging."

Can Hu let out a chirp.

"Make sure that you don't rush," Adam said. "Remember, we want effectiveness, not strain. This needs to work. It needs to work well, especially for the future."

"" Can Hu replied, adamant.

"Furthermore," Adam continued, "we will need to find a way to stall the Inquisition. We will have a little bit of time for this, but not long."

"I suspect this operation is more suited to someone of my capabilities," Uva said. "However, the Light-Curse poses a severe problem. We might need to find a way to circumvent that. I understand that there is a day-night cycle on the surface, but even so…"

"I've thought of this in advance," Adam said. "There is a set of boots you need to try later." Uva narrowed her eyes, and that got her a grin from Adam. "You might find them most useful for avoiding the sun's ugly glare." Uva paused, and then she nodded. Shiv could read and notice satisfaction in her features. "But aside from that, this is another reason why I wanted to fuse the Garden of Bountiful Alloy with Shiv's Cloak of Midnight Kindred—to make it a mobile forward operating base.”

“Huh?” Shiv said. “That’s what we’re trying to do?”

"Ultimately, I intend to make a teleportation anchor as well," Adam said. "Something that will allow us to easily transition from point to point, but there will be," Adam paused, "complexities related to that task. For now, it can probably carry a few people, a good amount of equipment, and an ever-regrowing supply of material resources.”

“I can see an active machine workshop constructed there as well,” Can Hu added. It looked at Shiv and paused. “I might no longer be useful as armor. But I can still build. And I can guard you without while I am within.”

Shiv nodded at that. This might just work…

“That will be a more long-term project. Something that progresses with building up our defenses, hiring forces.” Adam sighed.

And that made Shiv ponder a certain possibility. "We have a Court Leviathan," Shiv replied. "We could try growing our own Blood Horrors—”

And immediately there came an uproar.

"We cannot do this!" one of the Umbrals cried. "It's wrong! It's unholy! The Composer would never allow us to be tainted by such an act!"

Shiv winced. “It was just an idea.”

"Quiet!" Adam cried out. "Quiet! I understand," Adam said diplomatically. "I understand that you are repulsed and offended by the nature of the First Blood. I am too. As is Shiv." He looked at Shiv. "Shiv likely has killed more vampires than most of us in this room."

"Probably," Shiv replied.

"His mistake was saying 'Blood Horrors' rather than… Well, potentially, Biomantically-constructed golems or something. Ultimately, we need to consider all means of force-generation."

Uva suddenly went very still. Her eyes flickered between several colors, and Shiv suspected she had an idea she wasn’t voicing. An idea that might see them granted aid from the Outside.

Adam let out a breath as he looked at the gathered Cherished Sisters and Exalted Mothers. "I appreciate you for being here. I appreciate you for all the aid you have rendered and provided. However, you are an expeditionary force, and I cannot possibly expect a few hundred of you and a few of us to hold the gate against a proper army. The gate itself is also not ready. It has undergone substantial decay. Its districts are mostly destroyed. And the population…"

Adam trailed off at that. He shook his head and pinched his brow. "That's another issue. Priority item four is sorting out what I wish to do with the population. Some of the mercenaries and dignitaries can likely be offered back for ransom." Shiv remembered the Lone Star mercenary that Adam told him about. "We might be able to get some resources for that, but that will take time. Time we likely do not have. What's more, we have to solve some problems with the slaves. And should a good portion of the population leave, well…" Adam let out a breath. "There is a likelihood of further mana decay."

"We can request more support from Weave," one of the Umbrals suggested.

"Unlikely," an especially tall Weaveress responded immediately. "Per orders of her Lady Arachnae, our greatest martial Heroes and Legends are still held in reserve against the First Blood. And with those we lost during the raid, we are all the Composer can offer.”

“And I cannot ask for much more in good faith,” Adam said. “So, we will need to find alternative solutions.”

The Challenger is chuckling louder.

The Challenger has an offer for you.

Shiv spat. He really didn’t want to have an army of orcs holding the gate. Then, Shiv paused as he noticed Uva staring at him.

he asked.

she said, uneasily.

Adam said, slipping into the conversation.

Shiv growled.

“Such are the primary items of concern listed,” Adam said aloud. “I will leave this board here. If you have noticed there are wide spaces between, that’s because I invite you all to come in and write down your ideas for potential solutions. Please remember to return the markers and brushes. If you lose them, I will find them, and then I will find you. For now, I announce the primary briefing adjourned. I understand some of you have internal gate-related matters to discuss. I’ll come find you personally once I return from the scouting mission. For everyone else, you are free to return to your duties. Thank you again for your attendance.” Adam paused. “Steel yourselves. I fear there may yet be greater storms ahead.”

As Adam finished his summation, he immediately made for Uva and Shiv. “Uva. Armor. Boots. Shiv. Cloak. Can Hu? Ready?”

The Penitent’s body screeched as it trailed after the group. “At your command, Gate Lord.”

“Good. Valor. You can tell Shiv how his mind is weird along the way. Shiv. Uva. Orcs. Outsiders. And mercenaries.”

“We’re really mixing the sweet of new equipment and the shit of the other stuff,” Shiv mumbled.

“I suspect that’s the best way to eat shit, Shiv,” Adam said wryly. “By coating it in candy first.”