Continuum|Haven, Ilyamen

[adris]

Michelle took it upon herself to see Aslan in Ilyamen. The past attempts to sugar coat thier requests are obviously not what leaders and generals wanted in the other towns. She marched into the city hall and found the first secretary or assistant she could grab ahold of.

"In the name of Efil, force of all things living on our planet, I demand to see Aslan."

She was dressed very knightly, her armor was shining and her sword was held in a very decorated manner, her belt was a red, silken cloth. The sword itself was very regal and decorated, an important prayer of Efil etched into the blade. When the light hit her, with how much polished metal she had on, one would think she was glowing.

[Devon]

The secretary nods in surprise and gets up to knock on Aslan's door. The door opens and the secretary goes in for a moment to speak with him. Coming back out a few minutes later she waves Michelle into his office. Inside Aslan was kneeling down in front of a bed of flowers tending to them. "You wanted to see me?"

[adris]

Michelle stepped in with perfect posture to compliment her already elaborate outfit. One could tell by looking at it though that it was only for display. Especially the sword, which was thin enough to shatter if it actually had to hit anything.

"I do indeed need to see you. I need to ask you of a favor in the name of Efil herself and for all the innocent citizen's of Ilyamen. War has been declared by Taed on our very religion, and as such we must regretfully fight in order to avoid being consumed. I ask that you call off your guards while my forces run a military operation on the Taed temple within Ilyamen. This is so nobody but the guilty end up punished by our swords, and you personally will be seen as a hero in Efil's eyes."

She had in her hand yet another transcribed letter that described in full and accurate detail the events leading up to the declaration of war. While the facts written were skewed in the favor of Efil's army they were nontheless true. She held it out before her, offering it to the leader of the city.

[Devon]

Aslan stands up and reads the letter carefully. Folding it back up he hands it to her and begins to pace around in front of her. Tapping his chin every once in a while he eventually goes to sit down behind his desk.

"You're asking me to bring a fight into the homes of my people. Ilyamen is the place with the most diverse group of people, sign and idea wise. You'd find an Efil temple here right next to a temple of Taed. I don't think it'd be fair to my people to invite fighting into the streets. All I can suggest is that you try talking with the head priest of Taed if you haven't already."

[adris]

She bites her lip with enough anger that it begins to bleed, loosening up when she actually begins to taste her own blood. Out of a pouch on her side she takes a handkerchief and wipes the blood on the outside of her lips off.

"If I met with the priest of Taed I would be stabbed as soon as I was far enough into the temple that I couldn't make it out. What would I tell him anyway? To gather his people outside of Ilyamen so they can fight a war? He is safe tucked inside his temple as long as you don't act sir. Then, as soon as our backs are turned we are going to be facing a pincer strike."

She sighed and paced in order to get her words correct. Politics don't work well when they are infused with religion. She wondered why the leaders couldn't realize she was trying to save people by coming to them first.

"Our war is different then a normal one between nations sir. Our enemy has no borders, nor do they have any morals. They will get every advantage they can and crush us if we cannot act. If you want warn them of my coming to you, but do not force us to pass up such a dire situation."

[Devon]

"I'll send word for the head priest to meet me here, the most I will offer you is a chance to talk with him on equal ground and also my word that the temple of Taed will receive the same no I gave on fighting in Ilyamen. If you don't want to try peace, if bloodshed and war is the only thing you can see working then do so outside of Ilyamen. I promise you if either side brings more violence into Ilyamen you'll see what I do when I'm not behind a desk."

[adris]

Threats of violence wasn't enough to stop her from taking down the temple of Ilyamen. She would just have to employ tactics that she did in the past two cities. As it was, she would meet with the head priest and keep her cool in Aslan's presence. She had to make the future attack unlinked from the armies of Efil.

"Very well, bring him here, and when the heretic's voice rips the air from your throat and the life from your heart you will thank our efforts. I will negotiate meeting their forces outside the city."

She was sure that the forces of Efil was much larger then that of a few unequipped priest in a local temple. It should result in slaughter if they accepted, or if they declined she will have to search out a new way of bringing the same result to them.

[Devon]

Aslan nods and steps outside of his office to have his secretary send word for the Taed priest to come to the Ilyamen leader's office immediately. Coming back inside he sits down. "Why don't you have a seat while you wait? This is all very surprising to me, I would have never thought the temple of Efil would be so eager to kill someone."

[adris]

Michelle sat down, drawing her sword and placing it between her knees as sort of a pivot point. This was simply because this position was much more comfortable then it hanging off her belt as she sat.

"Efil giveth, she certainly has the power to taketh away. They declared war on us Sir Aslan, to sit back idly would mean our destruction. We are not eager to kill them as much as we are eager to preserve ourselves and our beliefs."

This all hearkens back to her failed meeting with Thessa, surprised at how the priestess reacted to war. Angered at how little thought she gave to the life of the high priestess of Efil.

[Devon]

"From the outside looking in, you seem blood-thirsty. The image I always had of Efil would never suggest that they'd strike the way you intend to. Have you at least spoken with the highest priest of Taed?"

[adris]

Michelle looked up to him, her eyes giving away the fact that she did not enjoy recalling the events of that meeting. She felt so insulted after seeing that woman that she was tempted to get rid of her at just that moment.

"That was our first action was an attempt to discuss peace with the high priestess. I gave her every option I could think of that would lead to a satisfying conclusion for both sides, and she scoffed at them. When I told her that the only option left was war, she taunted me and condemned all of our followers to death. We are acting out of self-preservation."

She went through everything to make herself look like a proud and strong warrior, but remembering her meeting with Thessa was enough to bring out her weakness again. She looked at the floor until she could recover from the feeling she was about to break out into another rage.

[Devon]

"Taed has so far made no moves against you. I hate to sound cliche, but I think you should give peace another chance." Aslan stops talking as his secretary comes into the room to let the Taed priest of Ilyamen in. Aslan stands and greets the man, then offers him a seat to sit down. "Now we can begin, Ms. if you'd like you can address him first."

[adris]

Michelle grinds her teeth a little at all these people standing up for assassins and murderors. She supresses her anger though in order to turn to the priest before her. After simply scowling for a few moments she was first to speak up.

"I was just told to give peace another chance. Fine, I will give you the conditions again to stop all feuding between our two factions. Surrender the assassins who killed our High priestess along with a formal apology and the war shall end. Otherwise, you can meet our forces outside of Ilyamen with whatever you can muster by days end."

She didn't have the patience for negotiations, that was the choice the man had. Vengence would be wrought, and whether they were given the two that were needed or if Efil's army had to cut down all followers of Taed to be sure those two were killed was not her concern.

[Devon]

The priest shakes his head,"Wouldn't it be better to go Athrug and talk to the priest there? Leadership just changed and while I heard of what happened to your priestess none of us know who did it. If you're going to blame others for something you should come with more evidence than that. I'll tell you the same as any Taed priest would, we didn't order a hit on your High priestess."

[adris]

Michelle stood quickly from her seat, as far as she was concerned this meeting was complete. She closed her eyes and took a couple deep breaths, turning and walking swiftly to the door.

"Very well then, we will go to Athrug. I will withdraw my armies, obviously we have nothing to gain here. Good day sirs."

With that she marched swiftly out of the room, she was going to keep her word. Once she met with the army she would give the order to move on. She would first stop by the local temple of Efil to give prayer in hopes that justice is eventually served.