UN Teleconference Two|Sensatiamens, Sensatia

[Kender Bard]

Thelon had taken the time to ease into a comfortable chair and keep some things on hand should he begin to develop a mental strain or headache. He hadn't strained himself this day at all, though, and was confident in his abilities. Reaching out, he began to pick up the leaders mind by mind and take them to same mindscape image that hosted them before.

~I am here. Cascata is not but she's in my city and I promise to fill her in or consult her if she's needed.~

I'm here, Thavan thought from his tent. He was heading back to Beastlands and had stopped for the conference.

So am I, Twilight chimed in from his study.

[Darastrix]

As are we, Lucifer thought as he, his regent, and his heir joined the meeting with Schuldig carrying most of the weight of their minds.

~And me, though I doubt I really count,~ the telepath added.

[Devon]

~I'm here as well,~ Trevor thought from his office in Reave. He was being supported by Sage. ~This is a very interesting way to hold a conference, I apologize for missing the first one.~

[Kender Bard]

~Let us begin~ Thelon replied. ~I've called you all together regarding a potential threat from the south. From the Beastlands in fact.~

Thavan's mind-form visibly bristled at that.

~Not from the Beasts, but from a kind of creature dwelling in your land. They are faeries. I have discussed the matter at length with King Lucifer already.~

Faeries! Twilight thought. I don't know whether to laugh or be somber. Snowflake told me that they were real, that a man in my employ had even bonded with one...

[Devon]

~I haven't encountered any of these faeries and to my knowledge no one in Reave has either,~ Trevor thought. ~What all do you know about them?~

[Darastrix]

~Enough to know that we all need to stay somber,~ Crawford stated.

The sprites seem harmless in and of themselves, Lucifer thought. They seem to care about the one they bond to. The problem is, they are not the only fey.

~Harmony was bonded to one, too,~ Schuldig continued. ~She ended up going to the faerie court, in the Beastlands. I spent the time she was there watching through her mind and I did not like what I saw. The sprites might care, but so far as I can tell, the rest only care about what they want. Their queen's even got some sort of rod that she used to call the rest that hadn't come at that point. It felt like some sort of compulsion, and it's the kind a Mind can't block it out. Later, she started taking the feylings off one at a time. Turns out she was wanting them to give an oath of loyalty to her. When Harmony asked what would happen if she refused, the queen said she could go...after she severed the bond with her sprite. Then she said it would probably kill him.~

He growled at the memory, anger leaking into his thoughts. ~She wants the feylings talk to humans about getting the fey more land. And she'll get them to do it however she can. Some of the feylings want to be there, but the ones that don't are fucking slaves that she threatened into signing themselves over to her.~

[Kender Bard]

~I grabbed some of the feylings that hadn't sworn oaths and took them out of there~ Thelon added. ~But I'm not sure what we can do about the rest. This rod sounds like some item of power.~

Take away the rod? Twilight offered.

I can't believe I never even knew they were here! Thavan thought, outraged.

Thelon tried to send calming thoughts Thavan's way. ~Easy friend. Don't forget that there are innocents mixed up in this and I think we need to figure out how to help them before we make any decisions about what to do with the faeries.~

[Devon]

~What if we give her what she wants, but with terms and conditions attached? More land, but the feylings are free to come and go and we do away with that rod~ Trevor thought.

[Darastrix]

~Then I'll collect some Gambling Path priests and start taking bets on just how many loopholes she finds to exploit,~ Schuldig said, rolling his eyes.

I agree with the general sentiment, if not its delivery, Lucifer thought. I do not see her agreeing to give up an item of such power willingly, and as for feylings being free to come and go, there are ample ways around such an agreement. Any contract with her and the fey would need to be gone over with a fine-toothed comb, and even then something might be overlooked.

~She's been around a long time,~ Schuldig said. ~Supposedly since before humans were ever created. Make a deal with that devil and it's at your own risk. I'm good doublespeak and finding loopholes for myself just because I'm a fucking argumentative bastard who doesn't like limits, but I wouldn't want to have to try to find a way around her deals.~

[Kender Bard]

~Agreed~ Thelon replied grimly. ~So what DO we do?~

Twilight chewed his lip and considered what he knew. Well if they're only being held there by threats, what are the odds that just rescuing them or giving them the opportunity to escape will work to free many?

~What of the ones that don't want to go?~ Thelon asked.

Either they need to be shown just what they've bargained into or they're too far gone to save, Thavan thought grimly.

[Devon]

~My concern is for the bonded, we should try and exhaust every option before force is used,~ Trevor thought. ~Perhaps there is someone within her camp that could stand to take over for the queen if she intends on being underhanded.~

[Darastrix]

~So far as I can tell, they're pretty much cut from the same cloth,~ Schuldig stated. ~It looks like you don't get ahead in their court without being tricky one way or the other. Even accepting a gift from one of them can get you into trouble. Nothing's free.~

What of the rest of their natures? Lucifer broke in before Schuldig could warm to his subject to the point of rambling. You did say there was a quality about them you were having difficulty pinpointing.

Schuldig grimaced. ~I still am,~ he groused. ~And it's pissing me off. What I got while I was watching Harmony was something familiar and different at the same time. Like, oh.... Like when you get home from a night out and everything's the same, but it's not right somehow and it just fucking nags at you.~

Crawford's mind-form raised a brow at Schuldig's. ~Premonition?~

~You're Etaf's favourite, not me. It's something about their minds, how they think or feel.~ Schuldig shook his head. ~I've got the kind of feeling that doesn't go away until after you've broken the would-be assassin's neck and realised what set it off was the fact that the dumbass moved or took something before hiding. Something's different. Or missing. And I can't tell if it's important because I don't know what the hell it is.~

[Kender Bard]

~Would you suggest I go and try to investigate?~ Thelon asked. ~It might be important.~

Or it might not and that'd be a waste of time and putting yourself in pointless danger, Thavan pointed out.

Well, Schuldig, Twilight thought. Do YOU think it's important enough to investigate?

[Darastrix]

~Well, if a Mind investigated, they wouldn't have to go anywhere,~ Schuldig pointed out. ~The reason I haven't by now is because the Beastlands are a little far for me to be both invasive and subtle at the same time.~

~Priority?~ Crawford prompted.

~I think it's less important as far as dealing with the feyling liaisons goes, but if this gets to, say, oh...a human-faerie war, it might be something worth knowing.~

Lucifer steepled his fingers. Schuldig, you have likened your feeling about the fey to having a word on the tip of your tongue. Something known, but not consciously so. Perhaps it would be more expedient to first allow someone to assist you with sifting through your thoughts regarding the fey.

~My thoughts aren't lined up neatly in books on a shelf like Crawford's.~

[Kender Bard]

~Have your wife do it--she probably knows your mind better than most others~ Thelon suggested. ~But back to the problem at hand.~

With some help, the Beasts could try to rescue who we can, Thavan said.

I must consult with my wife but I am prepared to say that Anarlina will most likely be willing to help with any rescue attempts, Twilight added.

And for the rest... Thavan gave the equivalent of a mental shrug. And then?

~Perhaps we should make our stance known clear and firmly ahead of time on where we stand with the faeries~ Thelon mumbled.