Jade-Lin nods. "So you've all got some experience and talent, at least. Destroyed an unfinished one, which is impressive. So I know you won't be a detriment to the mission. But how will you be an asset?"

 Taran shrugs, "D-Depends o-on th-th-the pl-plan an-and l-location, I-I s-s-suppose. I-I-I d-d-don't kn-know wh-what d-d-defenses a-a f-f-fully st-staffed m-monolith h-have. W-W-We c-c-could in-infiltrate, o-o-offer a d-distraction, o-o-or s-s-simply tr-travel w-w-with and o-offer s-s-support. Y-You kn-know th-the pl-plan m-ma'am, h-h-how c-c-can you use us?"

Jade-Lin thinks for a long moment. "All right. Here's the plan. We leave tomorrow, cross into Riedra and make our way to the monolith, which is a day and a half's travel away by Kintam Malin." She taps the table, and an illusory image of a bastion fortress appears, then zooms out as she points at a monolith about a mile away. "That's our target. A squad is going to infiltrate the fortress and cause a distraction so that they don't send reinforcements to the monolith itself. That means all we have to deal with is the garrison, twenty stone soldiers, ten fire soldiers, and two groups of five, one air and one water soldiers. The biggest threat is those two small squads. They could outmaneuver us or get a warning off to the fortress. The original plan was to fake psychic orders for them to find an Akiak dissident who'd infiltrated the area, then have me lead them on a merry chase around the wilderness while the others took down the stone and fire soldiers and destroyed the monolith, then I'd turn invisible and really lose them. We'd let Inspired justice take care of them after that. But if you lot come along with me, we can lay an ambush and kill them. Reduce a lot of risk of them getting smart and going back."

“I like the sounds of that. That way we’re not mucking up your plans too much. And if backup is needed we can come in once we’re done.” Vishal says with a smile 

Taran nods, "An-an am-ambush w-w-works w-w-well w-w-with our sk-skill s-sets. I-I c-can pr-prepare th-the b-b-bombs t-t-tonight an-and th-then e-e-either s-s-send th-them w-with y-your p-people o-o-or b-b-bury th-them a-at the am-ambush s-s-site. I-I-It's a l-lot o-of en-enemy f-f-forces, b-but m-manageable I-I th-think."

"Wh-Where sh-should I-I g-g-get st-started?"

Jade-Lin nods. "We leave early tomorrow morning, so I'd recommend getting some good sleep tonight. The bombs will go with the distraction team at the fortress, they'll be good and noisy, cause plenty of damage. Fane-Ro is waiting outside, have her point the way to the barracks and alchemist workshop. And feel free to join us for dinner tonight, we intend to make it a good one." She grins. "If you're still interested in the Night of Razor Dreams, we'll be telling the story tonight after eating."

Caelius signs,

"O-Of c-c-course, th-thank y-you M-Mister Caelius," Taran says before turning back and giving a small, respectful bow to Jade-Lin, "Th-Thank you f-f-for th-the o-offer of d-d-dinner. H-Hopefully ou-our ac-actions w-w-will re-repay y-your g-generosity."

Jade-Lin chuckles. "Yes, they will." With that, she heads for the door and down the hall, leaving you all to attend to your own devices.

OOC: And now I'll get scenes started in Discord!

The six of you split off to do your various things before dinner. When you make your way to the dining hall for dinner, you find it a long hall with simple, stone-hewed tables and benches that the Akiak sit at while passing around large platters of meat and lichen salad, and massive bowls of soup that they ladle into smaller cups. Jade-Lin comes in talking to Siepha, who nods to her before heading to a table to eat. The shapechanged dragon looks rather more relaxed and confident than you've seen her before.

One of the tables is set perpendicular to the rest, and Jade-Lin sits here with six other Akiak, two of which you vaguely recognize from the group in the map room you saw before she sent everyone out. The other four are treated with great respect even by Jade-Lin, getting first pick at the food and frequent refills of their cups. Over the course of the meal, you notice that every Akiak makes it over to them to speak warmly with them at least once. Though you guys get a few funny looks, probably thanks to your non-dwarfness, they welcome you into the meal, and as soon as Caelius's deafness is mentioned, most of them use at least rudimentary sign language to support their words and are able to translate his own signs themselves.

OOC: Okay, you guys have 24 hours (with the usual "if rp is happening I won't move you" caveat) before I move past dinner and to the story. After that, I'll be flying and traveling and such, and we'll be playing next week's schedule by ear.

Taran stares, dumb-founded at the sheer amount of food. He'd expected something more similar to the cafeteria, but this was... different.

Sitting at the far end of the group, as out of the way as he could be, Taran took small portions. Only half filling his soup bowl, and taking the thinner slices of meat, making sure to pass the platters on quickly so he didn't delay the others in getting their food. Above all, he had to avoid being rude, but he was quickly realizing he didn't know what was expected at this meal.

Dinner passes peacefully as the Akiak chat and eat, mostly in Dwarvish, though those near you switch into Riedran to include you in the conversation. As the meal winds down, Jade-Lin stands. "Tomorrow, we go to destroy another hanbanali. As is tradition, tonight we will tell the story of the Night of Razor Dreams. And as tonight we have visitors from the south, who will be aiding us tomorrow, we will tell the tale in the tongue of the south. Urs-Rak, Ferrus-Rus, Haex-Ro and Irris-Rak, you will go to Kintam Malin tomorrow to distract them while the rest of us attack the hanbanali. As is tradition, you will thus have the honor of telling the story." She bows her head and sits down again, and the four Akiak who were being treated with extra respect during dinner stand.

The first one begins. "Twelve centuries ago, the newly risen Inspired came to our elders in the Clanholds of the Paqaa mountains. They offered gold for our work and expertise, and our elders accepted. The Inspired asked us to build great monoliths that would channel psychic power across Riedra. They claimed it would let them care better for the Riedrans under their care. And in return, not only did they offer gold, but the opportunity to live outside of their society, to exist beyond their caste system and be our own masters. And so our elders accepted."

The next one picks up the story. "Our finest engineers put their minds to work creating these monoliths. Our best technicians fine tuned every aspect. And the Inspired brought something else to us. They brought wells of psionic power unlike anything we had seen to power and control these monoliths. Wells we now know draw from Dal Quor, Plane of Nightmare." Her voice twists in disgust at the mention of Dal Quor before she continues the story. "Our greatest psions imbued the crystal cores with power beyond what this Material Plane had seen before. And thus the hanbanali monoliths were created."

The third Akiak continues. "We shared all we knew and learned with the Inspired. The designs, the way of making the crystal, the formula for psionically imbued crysteel that not only absorbed the psionic power of the cores, but channeled and enhanced it. And in return they augmented our designs to do things we never could have dreamed. We should have been suspicious then, when they had all they needed from us and had intentions for the the monoliths beyond what we could imagine. But our coffers flowed with Riedran gold, and we allowed our greed to overwhelm our suspicion, to overwhelm our sense."

The final Akiak takes up the tale, his voice low and tight with old anger and grief. "And then, when the Inspired had everything they needed, when they could reproduce the hanbanali alone and could do things with them we never imagined, they turned on us. Across the Paqaa, our leaders, engineers, psions died in a single night. The Taskaan legion attacked our villages and killed or enslaved all who did not escape. Our greatest minds and warriors died in their dreams, in locked rooms that were never entered, to assassins a hundred miles away. The Night of Razor Dreams destroyed us, and our once-great nation was reduced to a few pitiful survivors who fled north, relying on our old allies the Qiku shifters to shelter and aid us." She nods to two figures that entered the room at some point during the story, both taller than the Akiak and wearing heavy cloaks with the hoods pulled up, currently leaning against the wall beside the doorway.

The four Akiak sit, and Jade-Lin stands, the bronze band around her neck flashing in the torchlight. "The Night of Razor Dreams destroyed us, but we built a new order from the ashes of our ancient nation. We devoted ourselves to the destruction of the Inspired, to the destruction of all Riedra stands for. Tonight, we name the Akiak who have died in the last month of our war. Tomorrow, before we cross the border, we will name the clans who were destroyed in the Night of Razor Dreams." She lifts her head. "Raz-Lin. Terris-Rak. Lex-Rus. Shel-Rak. Seith-Fel. Lazr-Kin. Yare-Lin." Her eyes flash as she turns to the four Akiak who told the story, who all stand again. "Tonight, we honor your sacrifice and your choice. Your names will join those of every Akiak who has died in our war. Fate willing, your choice will allow another of the hanbanali to fall, and put another chink in the crysteel armor of the Inspired." She bows her head to them. "May the past aid us in the present war, so that our future may be brighter." Every Akiak in the room, except for the quartet standing, bow their heads and repeat the phrase.

The two figures near the wall do not join in the words, but bow their heads briefly. After a moment, everyone lifts their head, and the gathering begins breaking up as Akiak start chatting with each other, make their way towards the four to personally speak with them again, or head for the exit. The two cloaked figures begin picking their way across the room towards Jade-Lin.

OOC: Okay. Cool. Did that. Y'all can feel free to openly rp with Jade-Lin, the cloaked figures, Akiak you've talked to during downtime, or just a random Akiak around you if you have questions. I will move to the next thing soon...ish, probably Sunday. I'll do my best to keep posting for you guys tomorrow while traveling though!

Taran's head swum with the new knowledge of the history of the Akiak. They had created the Hanbanali? They had been slaughtered for it?

But all of that faded to the background as he realized the true intent of the mission to the Kintam. He was crossing the room, emotions swirling as his face twisted up into frustration and regret. He didn't have the tools he needed. Taran stopped before the four, and bowed.

"I-I-I f-f-finished b-b-both b-bombs." his words sounded strange and echoing to his ears, "I-If I-I h-had kn-known th-the in-intent...I-I d-don't h-have th-the r-r-right s-s-supplies."

He was trembling, plucking three potions and two thick sticks from his pockets, "I-I-I un-understand th-the ch-choice, I-I h-honor it, b-b-because I-I've tr-tried t-to m-make th-the s-same o-one, an-and m-my a-a-allies r-refuse t-to l-l-let me. S-So I-I d-d-don't o-o-offer th-these t-to ex-ex-expect to-to ch-change anything. B-Because y-y-you d-don't w-want th-that." His breathing was rapid,  "Th-The p-potions o-of s-sanctuary o-offer o-o-one m-minute wh-where th-they w-w-will f-f-find i-it h-hard t-to str-strike at you, b-but th-the p-psychic pr-pressure r-relies on n-non aggression. P-Perhaps y-y-you c-can t-take it wh-while y-you s-set up th-the b-bombs, s-so th-they c-cannot stop y-you. Th-the smokesticks a-are al-also a m-minute, b-blinding smoke, i-it m-m-might b-buy y-you t-t-time to re-reposition or st-strike a-at them l-longer..."

Taran held the small collection of items out, "I-I d-d-don't h-have en-enough, an-and I c-c-can't m-make more i-in time, b-b-but w-w-will y-you a-accept th-them?"

The four Akiak look over as Taran approaches, inclining their heads as he speaks. They take the sticks and potions, giving him a nod. "Thank you," one of them, a dwarf woman with streaks of red in her brown hair, says. "Just so you know...because of those bombs, and now these, we have a pretty good chance of doing more at the Kintam than just diverting soldiers. We think we might have a chance of taking part of it down. If the Kintam on the border is damaged, the Riedrans no longer have a staging area to send death squads into the Tundra after us. It'll make a big difference."

Another of the Akiak, a male duergar with a patchwork of scars visible on his arms, nods. "And we appreciate you honoring our choice." He chuckles. "Not all southerners understand that. Each of us volunteered for this for a reason. And our sacrifice is going to give the clans a chance to take down another monolith."

"I-I-I'm gl-glad I-I c-c-could m-m-make a d-d-difference i-in y-y-your m-m-mission." Taran says, internally wishing he could do so much more, "M-May th-the B-Beastlord s-soften  y-your st-steps and gr-grant y-you a s-s-successful h-hunt."

Taran turns to leave, making way for the others seeking to say their goodbyes. He wandered around the edge of the gathering, listening and watching, seeing if there was anything he could learn or discover, but without much purpose. He didn't know where to direct this energy inside him.

As things are winding down, Jade-Lin approaches with the two cloaked figures. They now have their hoods back to reveal that they are both shifters watching you with interest. "You seven, this is Telaani-Lirika and Telaani-Kasqae. They're Qiku shifters who will help you find your team after this. They've worked with southerners before."

Telaani-Lirika, a dark skinned shifter with two swords bearing a rising sun symbol slung across her back, inclines her head, her gold eyes taking you all in. "The more casual versions of our names are Tel-Lir and Tel-Kas. I've already sent a group to find your extraction team and guide them to a meeting point once they land. When you return the morning after next, Tel-Kas and I will take you there." As she speaks, you notice a long scar running from the base of her ear down her throat and vanishing beneath her shirt. The scar is pink and clearly fairly new.

Tel-Lir:

"I hope these are a little less qokking superior than the last ones," Telaani-Kasqae, a black-haired man with a quiver and bow across his back and short sword at his side, mutters, narrowing his eyes at you all.

Tel-Kas:

Tel-Lir raises her hand to silence the other shifter. "I apologize for Tel-Kas. Though the last southerners we worked with were very helpful, he and they did not...get along. But I am sure he will approach this with an open mind, for you are new people." Tel-Kas ducks his head, looking chastened, and gives you all an apologetic nod as Tel-Lir continues. "Might I know your names?"

"M-M-My n-name is T-Taran," the young alchemist says with a bow, "I-I, um, I-I th-thank y-you f-f-for a-aiding us, I-I, w-w-well, I w-w-would l-like t-t-to offer a-aid, I-I a-am a tr-tracker an-and a s-s-survivalist, a-among o-other th-things, b-b-but i-if i-i-it w-w-would b-be s-s-seen as a-a-an in-insult... i-i-it w-w-wouldn't b-b-be b-because I-I d-doubt y-y-our sk-skills, in-in f-f-fact, I w-w-would l-love t-to l-learn wh-what y-y-you kn-know, I-I-I j-j-just...w-w-want to b-b-be u-useful."

"I'm Vishal, you can call me Vish if you really want to. And we should get along fine unless you're mean." He then debates for a moment before deciding it would be probably rude to ask if they know who Dulamul is. 

"Might I know your names..." Kaori repeats, thinking for a moment before opening her beak again, the sound of a flowing river meeting their ears. Once the sound fades, she takes a nervous step behind Vishal, watching the shifters with a curious expression.

At the sound of the cave river, Taran blinks and turns staring at Kaori. Her old name? Why would she tell them that?

Taran steps over, leaning down slightly to whisper to the small bird girl, "Wh-What's wr-wrong? I-I-Is e-ev-everything o-o-okay?" his eyes flicked between their defender and the two shifters.