Maya

Upon entering the dark depths of the chasm, everything that the kitsune queen rehearsed in her mind… it vanishes. The atmosphere, the presence of the dragonborn leading the meeting, it’s unnerving her, even though it shouldn’t. In fact, throughout the entire event, Maya probably heard about one or two things coming from, but the rest of the details, despite appearing to be seriously focused, she either didn’t pick up or heard only half of it. Her poor fox head is spinning inside despite masking it in front of the others. But the moment Joel raises the topic of some otherworldly invaders, the kitsune goes on high alert mode and shudders even more; She thought he was mentioning her and Renar, out of all people that would've entered here. All of a sudden, her hidden tail becomes stiff in fear. Ittai nani o kikeba ī nodeshou ka? Watashi to watashi no musuko wa kore to nani no kankei ga aru nodeshou ka? Soshite... Naze minasan wa sudeni shitte imasu ka? ! (一体何を聴けばいいのでしょうか？私と私の息子はこれと何の関係があるのでしょうか？そして...なぜ皆さんはすでに知っていますか?!What am I supposed to even listen to? What's me and my son got to do with this? And... how do you all know already?!) 

Even as the others spoke their piece, she remained silent. Upon being asked too, she wanted to speak up… there was something she had in mind… Watashi no ōkoku no shidō-sha to shite… iya… joō to shite, tatoe watashi ga iji shitai heiwanotameni shinmin ga watashi ni hankō shita to shite mo, watashi wa kesshite sakarawanai yō ni saishin no chūi o haratte imasu. Bōryoku wa watashi ga kono sekai ni motarashitai tēmade wa arimasendeshitaga, soredemo watashitachi wa koko ni imasu. (私の王国の指導者として…いや…女王として、たとえ私が維持したい平和のために臣民が私に反抗したとしても、私は決して逆らわないように細心の注意を払っています。 暴力は私がこの世界にもたらしたいテーマではありませんでしたが、それでも私たちはここにいます。, As the leader... no... as the queen of my realm, I take great care to never defy my subjects, even if they defy me for the peace I aim to maintain. Violence was never the topic I want to bring to this world, yet here we are.) But again, she couldn’t let it out. She does lift her clawed hands every once in a while as a feint gesture of some sort but still... nothing. Just total anxiety overrunning her shivering soul. This was a question that she can’t even answer without even breaking it down into a language that’s incomprehensible for the others besides… Renar.

Mira

The atmosphere felt entirely different; Around Elmars, Mira felt nothing but sheer rage at the thought of just beating some sense into this birdbrain herself. Around Joel though as she enters and witnesses his starry aura, the anger that’s been housed in her heart has been converted into terror. She’s come face-to-face with a prime minister for the first time ever; Considering that he has a lot of authority, it wouldn’t be wise for her to present herself in the most obnoxious way possible. In fact, like Elmars, Mira gives Joel her politest, yet serious courtesy towards the latter. During the meeting, she remained silent because she would never want to interrupt someone as powerful as him. At least until she heard notes about some goblins being murdered near where Adelaide's domain is. Seeing that Cezars was related to her, she draws to some immediate conclusion, though not a rather accurate one.

“Part of it mu- p-part of it must be Adelaide’s doing at least that’s what I assume from my misadventures with um… these guys. I mean, fireballed… it’s gruesome but… that’s something a Fire Genasi like her would do. But the cut down ones… um… ev-e-even so um, it makes sense considering that they were in her turf after all. I mean, I was told that she wasn't one to be messed with. And not like anyone would be able to touch her.” She muses with a paw on her chin, only for her to raise her curled up ears in shock over... “T… that’s impossible. What do you mean that… the barrier has been shattered already?" She gasps. She vaguely remembers her mother telling her that Lancea was well protecte by otherworldly invaders by this imaginary 'barrier' in the sky, and she believed it for a long time. Now, to hear that not only this is real, but it's been shattered before she can initiate her plans to revive the rebellion and help the world rebuild its forces before something like this happened... It was news to her, even though she had to compose her cool on the outside. At least, until Joel asks her and everyone else...

“Defy… what people is?” It took a while for her to process this rather unusual question; She has no idea how to respond  to this, since she has never thought of defying others... if she heard that right. “I only defy those… who have nothing but…” This isn’t making sense. What does he mean by defy the people? She blinks. She can hardly find the answer for it herself. It took her two hard swallows plus ten seconds before she could recompose herself. "Defying the people was never on my mind, if that's an answer you anticipate. At least, not until you brought this up yourself, sir. That's all I have to say." Her eyes then darted to the others. Maya chose to stay dead silent over this matter, which is understandable, but… she needs to speak up for themselves too. As for the rest, she’s anticipating in silence over what they have to say on their end. Right now she doesn't suspect her and Renar would be one of those invaders, not since they haven't showed any hostile intent towards her or anyone else just yet. But, what if...

Renar

The mention of their space-time barrier gave me chills on the inside, especially since us kitsunes here do not belong in this world. Just as I feared. They knew all this while… At least, not fully though. He said there are invaders that came months ago. Me and Okaa-san, well… we came a few weeks ago so it couldn’t have been us doing this. But… hang on… he means invaders… which means…

My thoughts return to that mysterious world… Golarion, was it? Have they already arrived on this planet to enact their conquest? Some of them got fireballed… not a surprise. Only a Fire Genasi like her would do this; It’s unimaginable that a planet like this would be at peace for over 5000 years and not be able to prepare for such an instability immediately though, and now they’re blaming us for actually putting them in a predicament? I just can’t wrap my head around all of this either. At this point, I have this impression that despite being hours away from enacting our sabotage, we’re about to get unnecessarily sidetracked… again. It’s ironic how me and my mother are doing everything to prevent these things from happening despite being from a world that promotes murder… and now… ugh… 

“Defy the People?” I blankly reply. Why is even asking us this though? If this is a trick question just to weed me and Okaa-asn out from the rest then... I need to be careful of what I say to him. I mean sure, fine if you want me to answer that I can… “Well… I… um…” All of a sudden, I felt the gasp of my breath slip away; I let out nothing but a wisp of air from my mouth…

Matte… naze nani mo dete konai nodesu ka…? (待って…なぜ何も出てこないのですか…? Why is nothing coming out…?)

Shoot… did he not say define..?! I misheard; I thought he said define the people… not defy. I suddenly became tongue tied, unable to utter my voice of reason. Other than Rixi… other than the Wildland Shifters… other than my mother who has been worried about me 24/7… I couldn’t find an actual answer, as to what defying people meant. I felt paralyzed. “S-Sorry, um... I a-actually... I-I don't understand what you're asking me. Would it trouble you to repeat what you just asked, please, if you don't mind?"

Liivi looks about as some of her companions seem perplexed.  She understands because she feels much the same way.  Addressing Joel she says, "I admittedly do not fully understand all this interdimensional stuff, magic barriers, and other realms. But it makes no sense when you ask 'How we defy what people are?'  Do you mean 'How do we define what people are?' I think that makes more sense."  She gives a brief glance to the others to see if they might agree. 

"I have no idea what to answer to the first question. But defining people... I suppose any sentient being would be a person." 

Alex takes this in with relative silence, a pained expression crossing his face at the mention of murders. 

"Defy?" he frowns, based on context he's guessing Joel means define. "To defy people would be to turn against humanity I suppose, but I don't think that's what you are asking. To define people, well that's easy. Any sapient creature is a person. Any being able to differentiate between right and wrong and make choices of their own is a person. Any being that knows good and evil and acts accordingly, is a person." He could stop there, but he has a feeling where this is leading, "Good or evil, any being that can think for themselves is a person. So then, any race that has the ability to comprehend these things is a people. It doesn't matter who they are, where they came from, what they look like, or even what amount or good and evil they have done. Emotions and free will define us and set us apart as people."

Suddenly, the tense atmosphere in the room turns into awkwardness. Joel has a whole speech prepared, but fine, he swallows his saliva and tries again.

"I meant to say 'define,' not 'defy.' But fine, ignore that for now." Joel face-clawed, "I just haven't had a lot of sleep lately, a lot of things to do, a lot of paperworks to finish, not to mention constatly travelling everywhere, since I'm the leader of a nation and everyone wants to hold a meeting with me every ten hours or so. Trade agreement, military exercise, sports competition, it's the symptoms of having the most stressful job out there."

"But... Back to the point." He snaps his fingers, "I suspect that the interdimensionals are the ones behind these goblin's deaths, we might not have a lot of information about them, but they have proven themselves that they live in a backwards and barbaric society that doesn't respect our scared customs, and that goes back to what I said earlier."

Joel leans closer, "I only consider Lanceans to be proper 'people' in this universe, no other society out there are like us, they only seek to kill, pillage, and destroy, either at each other or at themselves. And let me tell you something, I am willing to let billions of those interdimensionals die before a single Lanceans gets murdered."

"This isn't my opinion, it is the objective truth, there are many scientific souces out there that suggests that our brain and our biological evolution are geared toward peace and helping each other."

"You have a new mission: you'll go to the Duchy of Varkalu and investigate those deaths and bring whoever had done this to justice. If they're fellow Lanceans, imprison them, they might be working with savages but they're still one of us, and Lanceans don't kill Lanceans. If they're from the other dimension, you have my permission to kill them, and you will face no legal consequences, because that's what those otherwolders deserved." His voice is low, and also full of rage, and he probably isn't the only one who thinks of this way. "And do not tell anyone about this, this is a top secret mission."

"I also have my mission to do, once the world is ready to know that we're being invaded, I will lead a crusade against these demons. And I will not stop until the universe has been cleanse of its filth, not until every planet learns our way of peace, and no one will be able to stop us." Joel says in the most casual tone you've ever heard, then he stands up and adjusts his clothing. 

"This is nonesense!" Liivi says forcefully. "First, how will we or anyone know to any degree of certainty if someone is or is not Lancean? Second, you conveniently make this proposed mission completely secret. So if we were to do as you say, those seeking to condemn us will have NO knowledge of your permission!"

She shakes her head. "And what is this calling those you've deemed not even people demons? Are there not demons who are Lanceans? Or are you condemning them also?"

Mira

“Hold on time out, time out! I get that you’re mad and all but come on, an interdimensional crusade? Isn’t that a bit too drastic?!” Mira gasps exasperatedly with her paws out. “Lancea has been at peace for so long, how else would you raise a billion troops in a matter of months? Like, unless if you have thoroughly enacted the logistics there’s no way you can just give the go-ahead to just launch a galactic scale at the expense of the people! And over a single murder that could've been easily prevented at all odds? Define what people are, you said? Am I missing something or have I actually underestimated what's at stake right here?”

When Liivi exclaims in an equally furious manner, the future queen couldn't help but agree. “Liivi’s right. Even if we catch those murderers on your behalf, we'll have no way to tell where they’re from or if they're truely one of us. I don’t know if there’s even an expert that can sniff the outsiders on the spot just from analyzing their behaviour directly, is there?” What on Lancea’s heavens is she digesting at all? First she gets kidnapped, then she struggles to stomach Paulis’ betrayal against the rebellion, the preparations for her conquest to being Queen of Lancea and now this… was this what her mother warned her about bearing the Queen’s weight? “It’s what Alek said just now: Good or evil, any being that can think for themselves is a person. If you intend on launching what I presume is mass genocide over some small incident that would’ve been easily, please think this through with us. I know I’m not in a position to challenge your idea of thinking but, is it really worth the risk turning ourselves into the monsters? Is it really more feasible than actually standing as one to defend our homeland when the day comes? When the world can still be saved in spite of the rumours of destruction bestowed upon it and the world population?” 

Renar

This entire time, my tail remained stiffer than a cold okonomiyaki on a camping stick. I can’t believe that everyone here would depict my kind as the barbaric ones on the spot, without any further judgement. Like, clearly you guys are just blindsided by all the murdering and whatnot that you can’t even at least differentiate Lanceans and otherworldly people as the same being, even when the latter is all but a person looking for peace. You people are no different to my kind; You’re just worse off than they are. Kitsunes like me have already had it rough over in the two planets that I call home, and now you insist on repeating the past that we as a whole race, have had to endure for centuries? Unbelievable…

My thoughts were surging. There was static electricity sparking faintly around my disguise, a sign that my anger is steadily losing its grip on me as I responded to this ruckus. “That… T-that sounds… unrealistic, trying to murder billions of invaders on their home planets. L-l-like, just because you depict those invaders from another planet, your own, barbaric… stereotype doesn’t mean that… that doesn’t mean they’re any different from us either. A galactic crusade like this is not worth every resource spent, even if the world has enough to expend. What, the whole world is gonna set their hostilities upon each other aside just for this? Is that… i-is that the whole idea? How are you so sure that the odds will be in our favour?” I hesitated for a moment, wondering what else I can add without inadvertently triggering everyone else in the room. I hope Okaa-san is thinking this thoroughly too, because one single mistake can easily cost us everything we treasure… especially all the hard-won people that rely on us kitsunes. “And… this sounds paradoxical but, even if you’re able to enact it, you’re already risking the lives of what… millions of ‘our’ own warriors? Doesn’t that defeat the whole purpose of defining what people are? Of your vows to prevent murder? What if this truth you’re talking about is suggesting something greater than… like…” I stop there, because even I don’t hold the answer to this at all. No point going deep into something I’ve got zero knowledge about, I learnt that the hard way. Glancing towards Alek who blurts his piece, which I don’t find any reason to object to, I then turn back to the kobold. “I don’t see why this mission you’re entrusting us is no big deal, but why keep it to ourselves? I really need to know one way or another. We've already had a rogue Fire Genasi who's not only associated with this Adelaide we needed to take down but also already committed malicious atrocities as what you said, including summoning and manipulating some demon from another dimension just to get rid of us... I don't want to know what you're putting us up against and whether this is worth the risk or not."

Noticing Liivi-san and Mira-san getting angsty about the invaders, I thought about something to say to ease them slightly… well, I had one train of thought layered out if only my mouth hadn’t beat me to it first… “I know someone who can identify who’s one of us and who’s not though… Sure, she may be an odd one in the bunch but…” My eyes briefly tilt to my mother, and then back. “...I'm sure her talents would help 'our' planet in the long run. She’s right here.” Well, that’s probably a white lie; I don't think Okaa-san can easily identify if they’re from our place or not… If those killers are part of the Cult of Dragons though, I’ll slit them on the spot, turn their corrupt souls into my essence, maybe. If they’re from that… Golarion place though… I just hope it’s not one of my allies, especially from the Lord’s Alliance.

“Is there anything else we need to know? Because if not…” I get out of my seat and turn my back on the starry kobold (who reminds me of Tenebris) and that stupid birdbrain. “We have a private, important matter to attend to.” If everyone else decides to, I leave the ominous room without speaking a word. If not, I continue to stay and even sit back down if they need me to, but I’d hate for us to get sidetracked at such a crucial moment, where we need to promote someone in our mini alliance to Queen.

Either way, there was this one thought surging in sync with the several thousand volts that coursed through my fur, especially after everything I digested…

I won’t let you touch the Sword Coast or Japan. Not those two!

Maya was completely thrown off guard when Renar attempted to direct everyone’s attention to her and blushes. “EH?! W… w-why me?!” Raiden, ga ga ko yo! Dōshite jibun no kawaisōna hahaoya ni ko no yōna koto o aete oshitsukeru nodesu ka? (雷電、我が子よ！どうして自分の可哀想な母親にこのようなことをあえて押し付けるのですか？ Raiden, my son! Why would you dare pin something like this on your poor mother?!) She exclaims in surprise when her own son out of all people suggests that she may be beneficial in catching their future targets. Her mood had already soured even lower after hearing this entire insanity, but as of now, she doesn't know what else to defend with. She doesn’t have this ability on her own; Every time she tries to identify friend from foe she has failed miserably so far. Why would he say that?! “Uh… I-I think he… h-he m-mention… s-someone else! Someone else good…!” She stammers in an attempt to deflect the attention that’s been brought to her.

Alexander's face goes from shocked to ghostly white when Joel lays his own views out on the table for them. He's willing to... he doesn't think... this is ludicrous! For a good moment, Alex looks like he is about to sick up. Joel is giving them permission to kill? This just doesn't make sense. Not only does it go against everything he'd ever been taught, but... these claims are utter lunacy. 

Something in him snaps and he slams his palms on the table in front of him, anger causing his pale face to regain its color as rage burns in his eyes. That sickening feeling still weighs heavy in his stomach though, and his voice quivers as he speaks. 

"Objective truth? You say that's not your opinion but if that's the case what source are you pulling this from? And who cares what science says?  Science is a way to find answers, it doesn't prove anything. It can lead us to theories sure, and can provide reasonable answers that can support truth, but it doesn't define truth. Besides, you're flat out contradicting yourself by saying we are evolved to value peace and then demanding mass murder on a universal scale. Not to mention the fact that we've already heard of and encountered several people who go against this, Cezars and Adelaide being the prime example. Explain their behaviors with science then!" 

He clenches his fists, quivering with anger... something he definitely has never done before. His companions are as appalled as he is it seems, not to mention the fact that they know Maya is an off worlder. Yet they're questions about how anyone else would know they had permission to... kill? This is just... he can't even...

"Let me ask you something then," he said in a quiet but still angry tone. "How do you define evil?" He stares Joel in the eye, not caring about what the consequences could be for these words. "By your definition, would the lancean who kills another lancean to protect his family be evil? If he had no other choice beside kill or watch his child be murdered before his eyes? Compare him to a lancean who performs lobotomy on her prisoners out of some sick twisted fascination with causing pain and suffering? Tell me, which of these people has committed the greater evil?" He suddenly laughed, pulling back from the table, "Or don't answer me, I already know what you are going to say. Even if that answer is absolutely idiotic and morally wrong. How dare you say that someone like Adelaide is worthy of mercy all the while saying that the innocents on the planets around us should be eradicated for simply existing? Who gave you the right to make that decision? Last I checked, you aren't God."

He grippes the front of his tabard, anger turning to grief and confusion. Nothing about this makes any sense. The world he thought he knew continues to crumble apart around him. "I'm so sick of everyone spouting off their beliefs and expecting me to just take it all in and accept it like the fool I've been all these years. Just because you hold a position of authority doesn't mean you have the right to define truth, nor does it mean I should just fall in line and accept it. All of you are the same, stuck in your own ideologies, unwilling to listen to anyone else's opinion." He wraps his arms around himself, voice growing quieter as he trembles. "Anyone who knows good and evil and has the power to choose between them is a person. And right now, you are choosing evil. I'll have no part of this genocide. I want to protect our planet. I will find the ones who killed those goblins, they chose evil and should pay the penalty for their choices. But I won't kill them, I don't care who they are or where they came from. They should be treated with the same respect and care we give each other. Otherwise we become hypocrites." He loosens his grip on his arms, eyes turning upward again as he starts to feel utterly alone in spite of being surrounded by his comrades. His eyes, now softened and sad return to Joel's gaze as he says, "I will do what it takes to overthrow the evil that is taking over our land, but not at the cost you are presenting me. I'd rather die." 

As the conversation continues, Shugo's expression becomes harder and harder. Then once the lizard starts blabbering about his OPINION being fact, he slams a hand down on the desk. "Let me stop you right there. You cannot say that this OPINION of yours is truth. You cannot base truth on the little you know about the universe. Sure, these particular people who are invading are planet might be bad, but that does not mean that everyone in this universe, or even everyone from that planet are evil. I refuse to believe that. TCH, just listen to yourself. You cannot say that evolution has made us a peaceful people and then turn around and say you advocate murdering everyone in the universe accept for lanceans. You cannot even say freaking evolution makes us all want to help each other. Take a look at Cezars and his psycho aunt Adalaide and even this guy right here." He jabs a thumb at Elmars. "You cannot tell me they are peaceful people and certainly cannot tell me they want to help even us Lanceans, when all of them go out of their way to inflict pain on others. Elmars here proved that point not more than 30 minutes ago." 

He takes his hand off the desk and crosses his arms still glaring at the lizard man. "I for one don't believe science has anything to do with a person's consciousness. Evolution does not affect the one's ability to know right from wrong. If you ask me, this entire world. Myself included, has undergone some of the most extreme brainwashing anyone could ever think possible. TCH, you Janus, Paulis... all of you are the same. So stuck in your own beliefs, expecting everyone to just follow along with your plans by saying it's fact." He growls, then shakes his head and begins pacing, hardly realizing he'd partially spoken over Alex. 

"And Renar and Mira are right. How do you expect to raise a lancean army, when apparently this group of people right here." He spreads his arms gesturing to his companions, "Are apparently the only ones in this world who are willing to step up and do something." He quotes Elmars, "Not to mention if your evolution Theory is true then the people of this planet are not going to up and abandon their peaceful natures to start killing people just because you want them to. Mira and Renar are also correct in saying that there isn't a sure way to tell if the murderers are lancean or not." He laughs bitterly, "And Liivi also has a point! You can't just give us permission to kill someone and expect it to stay secret. You are not the king, and even if you were I have no obligation to do anything you say since I'm not even from this country!" 

Shugo is obviously frustrated. Between Paulis, Janus, and now this nutcase he's pretty much finished with all these people's ridiculous ideals. If he's going to open up the option of killing, then the elf is certainly not going to restrict that to the invaders. No, if killing is suddenly fine now, Adalaide is the first on his list... though killing her may be to great a mercy. Alex's words about what defines evil only throws fuel on the fire in Shugo's mind. Killing Adalaide may be more mercy than she deserved, but it would also ensure that she doesn't hurt anyone else... He puts a hand over his chest, gripping his shirt and feeling his own heart beat. His days are numbered and he will not let anyone decide what he does with his final hours. A joyless smile crosses his lips as the thoughts run rampant through his head. Death is a mercy, an escape... the only road to true peace. 

When Renar admits to knowing someone who could identify the murderers, Shugo's face goes pale with shock breaking him out of the tornado of thoughts and emotions spiraling through his head. He just told this guy, someone who would through those who might be working with the invaders in prison, that he knows an other-worlder. He hadn't expected a move like that from Renar.... Though at this point if he is given a reason to attack these bastards he would not hold back.... 

Quote from PyromaniIsDeadThankGod >>

Mira

“Hold on time out, time out! I get that you’re mad and all but come on, an interdimensional crusade? Isn’t that a bit too drastic?!” Mira gasps exasperatedly with her paws out. “Lancea has been at peace for so long, how else would you raise a billion troops in a matter of months? Like, unless if you have thoroughly enacted the logistics there’s no way you can just give the go-ahead to just launch a galactic scale at the expense of the people! And over a single murder that could've been easily prevented at all odds? Define what people are, you said? Am I missing something or have I actually underestimated what's at stake right here?”

 

"It's all about timing." The Prime Minister says, clasping his claws. "As of now, not a single soul on Lancea, except you six knows about the murders. We need to slowly get our people prepared for war, too fast, and we might end up fighting each other instead of our enemy. Too slow, and we die."

"I want to slowly inform the population about the oncoming threats, maybe with the help of Enchantment magic. Tell them that they better start fighting for their lives, because if they don't, everyone they know and love will die." So... Joel wants to literally brainwash people (again) so they can go to war.

"The plan is simple: we win. Their population is no more than 150 million, and we have about 7 billion. It isn't a war, it will be a massacre, and it's for the greater good of us." 

Quote from Culuril >>

"This is nonesense!" Liivi says forcefully. "First, how will we or anyone know to any degree of certainty if someone is or is not Lancean? Second, you conveniently make this proposed mission completely secret. So if we were to do as you say, those seeking to condemn us will have NO knowledge of your permission!"

She shakes her head. "And what is this calling those you've deemed not even people demons? Are there not demons who are Lanceans? Or are you condemning them also?"

 On the topic of identifying others. "And you forgot about one thing, though. These people from other dimensions don't speak the same language as ours, so if you see someone who speaks with poor grammar, can't write, or speaks in a dialect you can't understand—they're aliens." He glances briefly at Maya before continuing. "I know there are people out there who simply cannot speak properly, whether they were raised differently or born with disability, but to ensure the safety of all of us, some innocents must suffer for the greater good of the majority; this is what life is like."

Quote from Rynn_Elocin >>

He takes his hand off the desk and crosses his arms still glaring at the lizard man. "I for one don't believe science has anything to do with a person's consciousness. Evolution does not affect the one's ability to know right from wrong. If you ask me, this entire world. Myself included, has undergone some of the most extreme brainwashing anyone could ever think possible. TCH, you Janus, Paulis... all of you are the same. So stuck in your own beliefs, expecting everyone to just follow along with your plans by saying it's fact." He growls, then shakes his head and begins pacing, hardly realizing he'd partially spoken over Alex. 

 

"It seems like you already know about Janus." He nods, "I know him, an old guy with a lot of knowledge of other worlds, and the ultimate weapon. The sun-bombs will definitely be useful, and I hope someone is planning to assemble them and drop them on their cities."

"It doesn't seem like you're nodding along with me, which is unfortunate. But in the end, you will agree with me, and you won't have the choice to say no." He looks to Elmars, "Right now, Kerwos is in a state of transition to another ruler, and I support him to be the next King of this country. He knows what is right for all of us Lanceans, and he will make sure you are hunted down if you do not follow our ideals."

There are things you should never say as a leader, and this is one of them. Joel basically admits that he is going to make Kerwos a puppet state of Arusa if Elmars wins the election. The Aarakocra seems surprised too, he looks at the starry lizardfolk with the most scared expression you've seen from him throughout the years.

"Life is full of contradictions, being alive is both an endless torment and the greatest gift God has given us, but that doesn't matter. The only thing that matters in life is if you win or you lose, and history is written by the victors." Says Joel.

 This entire monologue running wild like a feral soul is exactly what the poor kitsune mother is churning in her head right now; She had been absorbing all of this heresy and even keeping quiet to maintain the 'peace', but now it’s progressively becoming more evident that even the most gentle mothers, when pushed beyond their boundaries or values, can break under pressure. She's had enough.

“E-Enough! I don’t… w-an… wanna hear it!” She snarls angrily as she slams both of her clawed hands on the table, her razor sharp fangs visible whenever she opens her mouth to breathe. She cannot speak Lancean properly, she had no time to shower her ‘lost’ son with the love she thinks he needs and ask him to help her with this entire fiasco… and now this is what she’s forced to accept?! That they’ll destroy everything on the Sword Coast?! On Japan?! Everything leading up to this moment is already causing her brain to combust like the Silver Nitrate bomb that Maya heard from a few nights ago; This is beyond her own reasoning;  even the Sengoku warriors who treated her badly and killed her daughter wouldn't plan something dastardly like this. “Thi… desu whole time… you think I… I want... deal with this?! I don't agree! You let... them in, clean up... own mess! Don't go Even if you win... you lose already! Because you... abandon... your peace! I don't like that! You cause... pain... for others? For yourself? No one... like that... would they?! Why you not... think of families... over there? Over here?! Just... think this through! Why not... trust judgment?!" Her voice breaks down in anguish; She knows they're not gonna listen to her. (Persuasion: 11) Even if she could speak their language, is there really anything she can do right now as a Queen if negotiations like this are just gonna end up one sided?  

She retracts her clawed hand from the table and straightens up. “If you suffer... pain before... I... sorry... so have I. Like... us here. I aim to be peaceful like rest... Maybe we defend... instead of invade. But... Our values… peace and your conflict… they… don’t align. At all. Reality... isn't what you... want it... to become.” She huffs as she exits immediately, without a further thought. She doesn't see any point in expending her one-time use energy on this matter, even though she really needs to; She's terrified of what she's unable to do right now.

Renar

“I had a feeling you’d give us this mound of excuses.” I sigh in frustration. I’ve like… heard about just enough. And I’m not even mad. I’m just… disappointed, really, that this planet turns out to be worse than the one me and my lost mother stands on. I wasn’t surprised when Okaa-san started ranting as best as she could in Lancean; part of me told me not to stop her as she voiced her frustrations for everything that she’s experienced here. I mean, if I were in her shoes, I’d be no different. The moment she finished, I wanted to calm her down, but she had already left to my disdain. I don’t know much about politics but… I don’t think she should’ve left so abruptly like that in a meeting like this. 

Either way, I wasn’t just gonna sit there and take it all passively as I clench my claws, sparks of yellow electricity barely visible as I grit my teeth… “Leave Maya alone. Just because she appears and behaves like she’s not from ‘our’ planet doesn’t mean you dump your discrimination on her however you please. And like I said, quit it with the invasion theory. Besides… if she was… None of us in this room… would be here. Face the reality.” I’m all against massacring billions of people that would’ve virtually left this planet intact, which to their standards is ironic. But… I just can’t stand the thought of losing the closest friends I’ve had to befriend over my years… this is something that money will never buy. And once I lose them, they’re gone forever. No one else can replace them over anything. Even if we lose, I’d still have them by my side. 

“Once again if you have nothing else, I’ve got no reason to absorb the unwavering negativity that you yourself have amplified in the room. But I’m warning you, at the rate ‘our’ planet is going, we’re no different from those invaders that you’re theorizing to yourself and us alone. Either that or contact that Adelaide woman about her misdeeds and make her solve the problem herself. That’s all I’ll say.” I say as I leave with Okaa-san. There’s nothing we can do about this right now. Lancea needs to get rid of its own scum. The question is… how? I know this is where I need to come in again to pull everyone together: That idiot kobold wants the abusive baka birdbrain to be the king. So I have to think of some countermeasures of my own… The thing is… what can everyone else do? Sword Coast… Japan… On second thoughts, maybe I was right the first time: this planet is better off destroyed…

Mira

Wow. Just wow. It’s becoming incredibly obvious that these intentions are that of a simpleton… no, a coward, even moreso. After digesting Joel’s response, plus the fact that he supports Elmars, the one person no one on Lancea would ever want to ally with, the future queen wanted to laugh; She really wants to, but instead, her laughter rapidly devolves into the loudest, and most forceful fake coughs the rest have ever heard, to the point where she sounds like she’s choking on thin air. Once she stops, she briefly twitches her ears unsteadily whilst she recuperates to speak… at least until Maya starts yelling at Joel in her most noticeable, broken Lancean ever. Like sure… she’s clearly proving his point, but it doesn’t matter as much as the fact that she’s incredibly angry over that prime minister’s decisive method. And the worse bit is the latter doesn't even care at all! He thinks it’s some kind of blatant excuse when in reality, she appears to be the only one in this room to talk some sense. Like… this was surreal to watch from the future queen’s eyes.

Once she finishes though and abruptly leaves, Mira clears her throat again. “If there’s one thing I can agree on, it’s the progressive militarisation of our entire planet. What’s wrong with just defending our homeland? Why settle on an invasion where neither side will benefit, huh? But… other than… I’ve got no other comments, really. Your response to my response is just what I needed, kind sir.” She sarcastically responds. “Before you ask: Yeah. I wholeheartedly agree with you. You have the most knowledge in our block. I’ve got ‘no reason’ not to trust you anyways. History is in fact, written by victors.” Her next sentence is deliberately meant to sound misleading: She agrees with absolutely nothing over what Joel intends to do. Sure he’s insane, he’s delusional especially about the otherworldly ‘murderers’, but obviously right now, they shouldn’t be all sherlock and recognize that Mira herself is gonna prove Joel’s assumptions wrong: She will be the queen. If Joel attempts to spread misinformation to ruin her reputation, she will do anything it takes to crush him and any opposition on her way to restoring Lancea to full strength, especially when they have to defend the planet once again. It reminds her of a particular game she played with her big brother where he overconfidently claims that Mira herself couldn’t possibly best him on the first try… only to make him eat his words thirty minutes later. This already was shaping up to be a similar scenario to her past. And it’s already making her shudder internally.

“What’s wrong, huh? Are his words of defiance finally making sense in your skull, hm?” She asks Elmars as she takes advantage of his current state. Regardless though, her head tilts back to Joel with a flaring burst of hostility. “Your so-called classified files too. Are we gonna get straight to the point about it? Or is that all we have to know?” Mira tentatively asks. “Because if it is, then I don’t see any point in beating around the bush. We can handle things on our own from here if you are.” But obviously… you guys are the most idiotic narcissists I’ve ever had to deal with. You'd really think I'd be easily persuaded by your own irrationality? You think your galactic crimes are enough to make the planet a "saviour"? Tch. Are all politicians and rulers really this corrupt as I feared? Just great. These two are non-negotiable it seems. The nerve of starry-eyes proclaiming that he want some idiotic doofus to tear down the world as he has already been doing for YEARS! If Joel and everyone have nothing else to say, Mira breathes calmly before she exits the door and back outside. “Three friends go into battle. One is captured. One flies away. The one that is left becomes a hero.”

Outside, Mira had to breathe incredibly loud, such that everyone in the vicinity can hear this. “You know, I have some choice words for those two back there… as for you two…” She turns to Maya and Renar, the two that she initially distrusts the most and shudders upon receiving a new, but nasty theory about those two: Are they really from Lancea? If not, then where did they come from?

“Uh… n… nothing. Let's go see my mother... pronto.” She replies if anyone asks her about her surfacing fears. Her mind suddenly realizing that she's still carrying that hideous jar in her purse all this while, and it's slowly breaking her back over the hours.

(Persuasion check failed)

"Families? Our family is more important than theirs, our people are more important than theirs." The Prime Minister says. Seeing the party leave, neither he nor Elmars make any attempts to stop them; they probably think everyone else that isn't you is on their side. "And remember: Lancea comes first."

Looking outside, the gate is still locked, and you're stuck inside the fort, which is probably why both of them were so casual about you walking out of the room.

"Lancea first this, ultranationalism that..." A voice says in the hallway behind you, a voice that's similar to Mira. "Actually, the correct term would be pan-nationalism because this isn't about putting the interest of one nation over the other, but rather, a planet."

You hear the sound of a tome closing, and Miranda walks into view, adjusting her glasses. "Hello again, my daughter." She spread her arms wide, offering a hug. If Mira accepts, she turns to the other member of the party and quietly asks them for more hugs, too.

After that's done, their heartfelt reunion has to be cut short. "I'll assume you just got metaphorically grilled by Joel, yeah, me too, he actually tried to cast Dominate Person on me, but I used Counterspell in time." She sighs, "Crazy would be an understatement for someone like him. I have no idea how he even got elected in the first place."

"I don't really want to be here, but Joel sent a message to me that if I don't come to the wedding and listen to his lectures, he's going to put a tariff on my duchy, which is not a good thing since our economy can really be fragile. I'm willing to do anything for my people, and I'm willing to do anything for my daughter and her friends." She gives you a thumbs-up, "From now on, consider me and the people of the Duchy of Platone as your ally." 

Liivi smiles to finally see this woman - Mira's mother - before them. She is a little taken aback by the hugs but relents and gives her a hug as well. "It is good to meet you. And I certainly appreciate your offer to be allies.  Though it may be premature given all we have to tell." She pauses and looks at Mira. "It is perhaps better though for your daughter to explain. Is there somewhere we could all speak a bit more privately?"  She glances around. "Though we do seem likely to be under the close watch of all these folks here."