Khai Thorne
Parliament
Head Sorceress[M:0]
Played by { o p a l }
Posts: 33
|
Post by Khai Thorne on Jan 8, 2013 16:41:58 GMT -6
The words she'd spoken to Vunnz echoed in Khai's mind as she wandered aimlessly around the empty streets of the Nexus. Most foxes had gone back to classes and experiments after the shutdown, as the Head Chancellor was taking no chances. He had not just the best scientists working on the defense and re-tracing missions, but all of them. Teaching schedules were interrupted to do experiments and gather data for the creation of new prototypes, research was cast aside to study the portal and pinpoint its origin.
The Head Sorceress, however, had been allowed to roam free to clear her mind before delving into more studies. And more of them. And more. Even her brother, who was a ship, was being used in this massive effort. Attaches of the Parliament had boarded her skiff and chased her away to give Tiberus space to work on the more scientific aspect of things.
"They managed to shut it down," she muttered to herself as her paws carried her back and forth in front of the College of Meta aimlessly. "Surprising. He must've pulled a Crazy Ivan... but the alchemagical rebound from that would reverberate through all those nearby... but it did! Ah, yes, he pulled a Crazy Ivan."
She lowered one of her tentacles, which was holding the diagrams they'd taken of the portal before shutting it down. Khai looked at it again, and sighed, unawares that she was standing in the middle of a street. It was a queer thing, and must've taken forever to set up. How could something that big have evaded their notice?
Immersed in her studies of the diagram, Khai didn't hear the approaching pawsteps...
|
|
|
|
Post by Hakima Thorne on Jan 8, 2013 17:00:43 GMT -6
Hakima saw Khai long before the fennec noticed her. She was standing at the window, having just removed her hat to smooth down the fur on her head (a seemingly pointless habit that she had acquired in childhood), when she happened to glance down.
The corsac fox gave a little gasp, almost unable to believe her eyes. What was the Head Sorceress doing outside the College of Meta? She seized her writing materials from the table, using her free hand to button her coat; and made for the stairs. This was the chance she'd been waiting for! Sure, half the students would write their report on that weird battle, but this was Khai Thorne herself! Her story would carry weight- be important and trustworthy, even! Hakima tugged at the door and, when she realised it was bolted, snorted with irritation and worked to draw back the somewhat reluctant bolt.
"Come on," she muttered, pinning her notepad between her elbow and her torso so that both hands were free to work at the device. At last it slid back with a snap, and Hakima flung open the door, heart pounding.
There she was: Khai Thorne, just standing in the middle of the road. It seemed as though she hadn't seen Hakima, yet; and so the young fox took a moment to compose herself and brush some threads off her sleeves. The Head Sorceress was young too- much younger than Hakima would have expected, but still older than the pupil herself.
"Miss Khai Thorne?" she ventured at last, as she made her way across the street.
|
|
Khai Thorne
Parliament
Head Sorceress[M:0]
Played by { o p a l }
Posts: 33
|
Post by Khai Thorne on Jan 8, 2013 20:38:07 GMT -6
"Aah!" The Head Sorceress whipped around to face this new intruder on her private world of thought. The fennec came face to face with a young corsac- only slightly younger than her. "Ah, yes. That's me. What can I do for you?"
Khai studied her new acquaintance. Wearing a prim coat, hat, and gloves, with writing supplies tucked underneath her arm... right in front of the college of Meta...
Oh no.
This was an interview, wasn't it? She was being put into a spontaneous interview. She frowned slightly at the pupil. Did the lass have a bit of Thorne blood in her? Well, Khai would probably have to oblige her either way.
"You're here to interview me, aren't you? Very well. Ask away." She turned to face the corsac fox fully, pulling the diagram away from her face so that the two could converse with more ease.
|
|
|
|
Post by Hakima Thorne on Jan 9, 2013 15:23:02 GMT -6
Hakima watched the bronze tentacles in fascination. She'd never seen them up close before, and they were...well, they were like something out of a science fiction novel.
"I was wondering if you could perhaps answer some questions about today's events?" she continued, not wasting any time with further formalities. "To start with: what were those creatures? They looked like they were made of ice but, as my colleagues and I discussed, it seems absurd that a creature could be made entirely of ice."
She smiled politely at Khai, hoping and waiting for an answer that would satisfy her curiousity. The Head Sorceress was also shorter than she'd expected, but she felt it wouldn't be polite to bring this up. In her experience, shorter individuals didn't necessarily like to be reminded that they were so.
|
|
Khai Thorne
Parliament
Head Sorceress[M:0]
Played by { o p a l }
Posts: 33
|
Post by Khai Thorne on Jan 10, 2013 16:18:07 GMT -6
"Of course." Khai exhaled slowly and pondered the question. "They were, in fact, made of ice, as surprising as that may sound. A group of sorcerers could pull off such a feat with some careful study- three specific elements would be used in its creation. Light Water, for one. And normally they would probably use Light Aether as well, however, judging by the aggressiveness of the ice creatures, Dark Aether is more likely, imbued with a touch of Dark Fire- not enough to combat the ice, but enough to make the beasts enraged. I won't go into technicalities, I'd only bore you," She paused. "Head Chancellor Vunnz has already released an official statement with some of this information."
The High Sorceress's voice took on a more formal tone. "I can also assure you that measures have been taken to safely collect all the supplies used to set up the portal, and extensive work is being put into retracing it back to its origin point. We have also increased our vigilance and will ensure that nothing like this escapes our notice again. All that remains is to make whoever created these monsters pay for what they've done. In the meantime, we will be fortifying an area around Calamity Bay with the assistance of the Wolves and Felines to ensure the safety of all, and plan for further cooperation to root out the source of this evil." She gave a rather forced grin, knowing she'd parroted out the official Parliament statement.
"Anything else you'd like to know? Going over the facts sometimes refreshes my mind. Besides, the fresh air is a nice break from my lab and the parliament library."
|
|
|
|
Post by Hakima Thorne on Jan 17, 2013 17:45:06 GMT -6
Most of the magic stuff passed over Hakima's head, although she took the time to jot down in shorthand what Khai was saying. But at the mention of an official statement, she looked up and frowned slightly.
Why haven't I heard this, then? I suppose I would have eventually.
As Khai finished speaking, Hakima corrected some odd looking letters before glancing up.
"Well, the thing is, Miss Thorne...well, we haven't worked with the other species in years. How can we be sure that they won't just turn around and stab us in the back?"
Hakima wasn't entirely certain that the answer would be of use in her article, but she needed to know how the foxes were so readily going to work with the barbarian races. From what little she knew of them, they weren't exactly honest. Who knew what could happen?
|
|
Khai Thorne
Parliament
Head Sorceress[M:0]
Played by { o p a l }
Posts: 33
|
Post by Khai Thorne on Jan 17, 2013 17:56:53 GMT -6
"Well, the thing is, Miss Thorne...well, we haven't worked with the other species in years. How can we be sure that they won't just turn around and stab us in the back?" The little corsac looked expectantly at Khai.
The Head Sorceress let out her breath slowly and fiddled with her ear with one of her tentacles. "The fact is... we're relying on the mutual need of survival." She leaned in closer and lowered her voice conspiratorially. "I think that the Head Chancellor, the Whisperer, and the Templar Primus are all surprised at how our three-pronged attack went, so they've all tentatively decided to try and work together again to see how well it goes this time."
She pulled away. "The other fact is that the Wolves and the Felines also don't trust each other. Were one to turn on us, the other would probably also fight that one, out of the desire to eliminate an untrustworthy ally and fear that they'd be next."
Khai deliberated. How much to reveal? Truthfully, she knew much more. About how they probably couldn't face this foe on their own. They had the technology to track back the portal, but they didn't have the numbers to storm whatever place it come from or the intel-gathering skills to correctly infiltrate the place. And while prototypes were being tested, they wouldn't have nearly enough ready- the Head Sorceress knew that the ice creatures had been created from a large supply of ice. Well, it was just the beginning of winter, and if the attacks kept up... without the help of the other species, their only saviour would be the spring. But- and here was the clincher- spring might never come. If Khai's predictions were correct, the group behind this was influencing the seasons at the same time. If they could induce an ice age... winter would reign supreme.
A freezing wind swept down the street, biting through Khai's fur. The fox suppressed a shiver. "Ah, yes." She seemed to notice Hakima for the first time since she'd last spoke. "The truth is, if we can form a truce with the other two races, we'd be able to focus our energies on improving our technology. And..." She trailed off. Ah, what the heck. "Besides, if my suspicions are correct... we'll need some help to outlast this winter."
|
|
|
|
Post by Hakima Thorne on Jan 27, 2013 18:18:27 GMT -6
The chill wind which caused Khai discomfort also managed to cut through the various layers of clothing which Hakima wore. She shivered, freeing up one hand so that she could fold the collar up around her neck. Why hadn't she thought to wear the thicker, red coat? Probably because it was getting kinda old, faded, and possibly a little moth-eaten. Still, at least it was warm!
"Help?"
She scribbled something down, and then her bright eyes were turned again upon the Head Sorceress.
"Outlasting the winter? Will it- will it be colder than usual this year? Or..."
She felt slightly stupid, professionalism slipping as she fumbled with cold and gloved hands to turn a page. Why couldn't they have just been fighting wolves? Or pirates, even? At least she could understand that stuff.
|
|
Khai Thorne
Parliament
Head Sorceress[M:0]
Played by { o p a l }
Posts: 33
|
Post by Khai Thorne on Jan 27, 2013 18:38:44 GMT -6
Khai nodded, her features grim. "Help. Yes. This winter..." She trailed off, deliberating again. To tell or not to tell, to let the populace know or not...
Could she trust this fox?
No.
So she couldn't tell the full story. She shouldn't, and she wouldn't.
"For now, I'll just say this: I think the sorcerers behind this attack have some nasty surprises in store for us. But I wouldn't worry about it- I'm completely confident that we can pull this off." Perhaps I should release some soothing hormones in her mind? ....Nay, that'd be impolite. Then again, I am not particularly polite.
Khai watched the other fox as she struggled to keep up a professional facade. "You're a Thorne, aren't you?" The question seemed random, but in Khai's mind, nothing was random.
"Anyway. Do you have any final questions?"
I do hope I haven't taken too long. I wouldn't want to make our Chancellor upset by taking too long to get back to my research. The prospect of more research almost made her want to barf. Sure, research could be fun, but... it could also be incredibly boring and tedious.
At least, if her predictions were true, the upcoming months wouldn't be so monotonous as these. Though, now that she thought about it, that might not be a good thing.
|
|
|
|
Post by Hakima Thorne on Jan 27, 2013 18:56:57 GMT -6
"Um...okay."
Hakima took note of what was said. The last question had thrown her off a little, but she nodded anyway.
"I am a Thorne, yes. Thank you, Head Sorceress. That should be fine. I hope I haven't kept you from your work for too long."
She tucked her pen between her ear and her hat and waited for the fennec to depart. At the very least, there was a good story in all of this. At the most...well, Khai had said that they had it under control. Why would Hakima doubt the Head Sorceress, an influential and intelligent member of the Parliament?
She turned and made her way back into the building, thoughts of ice and winter chasing each other through her mind.
|
|
