[@The Irish Tree],[@Rockin Strings]
[hider=In-before a jaunt outdoors.]
Ashara remained seated and quiet for the rest of the meeting. Her ears twitched and turned as each person spoke. She didn't really know or understand the meaning behind Salem and Rodias' discussion about how to best deal with the duke that was now soon-to-be-replaced. Then again, Ashara never was much for subtle or underhanded tactics, so largely the machinations of those who did scheme such things were lost on her. 

When Rodias offered to 'play' with Light however, a visible streak of momentary worry ran across the fox spirit's eyes. Naturally, she knew well enough that her lord could take care of himself, and indeed none of those in the Chateau were any match for him - but she could still not help but worry. Light was... [i]Difficult[/i], to put it politely, to just be around - let alone engage in any sort of scrap, even if it was just rough-housing. Still, if the void beast was kept entertained, perhaps it would keep her from causing problems for the rest of the castle. The fox sighed internally, admiring her master's willingness to sacrifice his own mind and well-being to protect his servants! ... Even if it was from themselves.

Kaldrona's speech about the sudden change to how mana worked was a bit alarming, to be sure. Some of Ashara's more useful skills and abilities relied on her using it after all. Still, as of yet there had been no real need to use large amounts of magic, and even if the unknown stalker were to rear its head, Ashara was confident that her skills with the spear would let her fight without relying solely on her magic abilities. After all, she was a better spearman than a caster anyway. Still, she'd need to try and remember to let the girls back at the shrine know - she didn't want them to accidentally push themeselves too hard and collapse as a result of not knowing when to stop, or what would happen if they did.

Fianlly, the arrival of Lord Chompy Bits, his declaration of travelling with Ashara and Gromgard, and his subsequent, and rather rude, treatment of Zouyu and the weretiger's gift, made Ashara sigh another internal breath. It was bad enough that she was to accompany the lord of unwashed goblins to hunt down filthy kidnappers in a forest, but now they had to bring along possibly the most vicious and sadistic of all the Chapter Keepers, who prefered to play and watch his enemies suffer, rather than do his duty. In addition, she felt so sorry for Zouyu, and a sisterly urge to comfort her fellow beastman compelled her to rise and walk over to the poor weretiger.

With tails wrapping around the poor boy's arms, shoulders and across his back, she gave him a gentle embrace, petting his head softly.

She said nothing though, as there was nothing [i]to[/i] be said, after all. The way the boy had looked, smelt and behaved... And the response given by the Chapter Keeper. Sometimes actions said more than words. While normally Ashara found Zouyu a bit too... Sporadic and energetic, he was still just achild when everything was said and done.

She didn't pay much attention to Gromgard's mockery of the Chapter Keeper - the oaf was just making a fool out of himself for trying to make a jab at one of his betters.

After letting Zouyu go, with a gentle smile on her face, Ashara turned to face the General.

"It seems we shall be working together, Sir Gromgard." She said, clasping both hands together and holding them together infront of her, just below her somatch. She gave the shadowbeing a polite bow. "I hope I will prove useful in this task." She rose again. "I must however excuse myself for now. I need to inform my siblings that I am to leave the Chateau again. But I shall meet with you and Lord Chomp outside the main gate once I am ready. For now, farewell." The white-haired fox said, formally as per usual, before leaving the room, headed back towardds the Shadowtower Shrine.

As she left, she heard Chuunitrixx call for Kaldorna, and mention something about an arrangement that would be to both their benefits. Ashara didn't stop though, she wasn't the type to eavesdrop on matters not concerning her.[/hider]
[hider=I spy with my little eye..]
With the orders set forth by Rodias in effect, Isolde's ESPER Wings would soon find themselves taking flight into the blue expanse of the strange world's foreign skies. Atmospheric conditions were optimal, cloud cover was plentiful, and there couldn't be a fairer wind to ensure a safe journey. At least, as far as fighting the skies went. With their fuel sources primed and ready, the ESPERs would have no difficulty in launching themselves into the skies and into the clouds before being seen. They'd have the full ability to fly and observe as they wished.

With Isolde's return and instructions now given to her [i]sisters[/i], the eleven most powerful beings of the COIN assembled at one of the walls, each armed with their respective replica weapons and their glowing, slightly humming, ethereal aether-wings having grown and burst from their backs. The tiny females resembled an elite task-force of techno-mecha-angels, preparing to take flgiht to the tune of Wagner's 'Ride of the Valkyrie'.

"All preperations complete. Commence operation." Isolde commanded, dead-pan and unenthused as normal. The ESPER Wings behind her simply nodded.

With another verbal command, similar to the one she had used back when Rodias and Salem had first awoken her, the stream of words that sounded as if they were played in gargled, fast-forward and jumbled order, escaped the little automaton's lips. After which, a loud rubmling was heard, as a circular opening suddenly began to slide to the side, revealing the vast expanse of the new world outside. Gently hovering off the ground, the group maintained a still-floating position momentarily, before finally setting off at incredibly high speed, zipping out of the opening like bolts fired from a crossbow. Racing up and towards the cloudline, Isolde again commanded her unit, as the wind whipped and whined around them as they zoomed ahead.

"All units prepare for seperation. Triangular observation manuevre, move to desginatedd positions. Team One, Team Two, four memmbers each. Team Zero, three members including Command Unit. Begin."

Wordlessly as usual, the ESPERs followed their commands without objection or any sort of verbal confirmation. Four of them then veered off towards the south, while another four began heading northwards. Isolde, and the two remaining, began to head east, flying over the village of Amberden and a ways away. The plan was to form a triangle-shaped field of observation, allowing each group to monitor the areas around the Chateau, Amberden and the areas between the village and the city where the duke lived.

As each group got into position, they took cover in the clouds, or barring theavailability of that, the mage-classed ESPER of each team would cast their [MAss Invisibility] spell to completely hide their respective team from ground and airborne eyes. The observating could then began in earnest. Given the automatons' ability to zoom in and use their eyes as binoculars, along with the additional benefits of their visors, they were essentially airborne, high-grade cameras, or perhaps even spy-satelites, at this point.

The invisibility and cloud cover would seemingly prove efficient, with any peoples catching a random glimpse of an ESPER understandably mistaking them for a high-flying bird. Those heading to the South would catch on their visors the images of a war being waged, twin factions bashing against a larger third faction. It seemed that some sort of alliance was holding out against a much larger foe. Those to the North would be able to see that Chuunitrixx's Gamma mimic camp was the only true sign of any sort of civilization save for the glistening tower of ice farther to the North. Pressing further with the arctic winds biting the very air would prove to be difficult, but not impossible, should the ESPERs desire to investigate the tower closer.

Isolde's group heading east would see Amberden, the routes connecting it, and a fair distance aways the city that Rodias no doubt intended to infiltrate with Salem and Mamoru. The small city was clearly one built as a trade hub, rather than as an industry powerhouse in any capacity. The market square was massive, with various peoples of numerous humanoid forms walking about. Obviously humans were confirmed, but the Dragonscarred as they had been called were also present in small numbers. There were small, squat people resembling animals as well walking amidst the streets, with a large number of them running stalls. They looked...somewhat adorable. But whether or not Isolde even felt that things were cute, it was clear that at the very least more than humans did exist in this place. A few slightly pointed ears might also have proven the existence of elves, but the shortness of the ears meant that it could simply be humanoids with some form of mutation, rather than the mystical elves present in YGGDRASIL.

Isolde and her team would not pay much attention to the new city, nor its inhabitants. As Rodias had given them instructions to monitor the roads, trade routes and paths that people travelled to and from the settlement, as such that became their top priority. The trio would carefully surveill and track movement, both of those on foot, horseback or on cart or in carriage - carefully studying where they went, what they travlled to and from, and how they moved about.

The northern team would do little however, seemingly content with keeping an eye on Gamma's faux-village and the area immediately below them. Their focus was primarily to monitor for signs of any powerful or noteworthy presences, as there was a distinct lack of other things for them to keep track off. Silently they kept and performed their vigil without groans or moans.

The souther team had to divide their attention though. Two ESPERs were carefully observing the battle between the three factions, taking in details like their weapons and armor, their coats of arms or tbards and heradlry, their races and general appearances, as well as their overall strength and capabilities. The other two, were left to the original task though, to monitor for signs of the mysterious peeper who had spied on Kath, as well as keeping track on roads and paths in their area.

As far as all observers could tell, there was no sign of the mysterious observer that had encountered Kath. The two that broke off wouldn't be able to sense any large fluctuation in power, save for those coming from the battlefield raging in the South. The combatants seemed to majorly be human, with various sizes indicating that smaller races were likely involved in the mix. Those wearing a green standard bore a fairly homogeneous army of humanoids, while those donning a purple banner had a stranger army by far. While still majorly humanoid, giants towered over fellow soldiers and hurled boulders as artillery, with goblinoids being present in the ranks as well. Strange as it was, it seemed the "Purples" had monstrous races aligned with them. In the back lines of the army, snake-tailed soldiers were slinging spells and casting clerical magics on the wounded. The fight as a whole seemed a stalemate, the kind that would go on for a long time. 

The north team would also come up empty, with the most powerful individual simply being the mimic that Chuunitrixx had left in charge. However, they could definitely feel in the air that power dwelled further north. 

The trade routes were fairly uncomplicated, despite the fact that they were sprawling out in various directions and leading to numerous other cities and towns. The infrastructure for this nation seemed relatively good, given that a majority of the roads between cities were well-patrolled, made of cobbled stone, and fairly clean. It was...strange, really. Regardless, Isolde and the ESPER Wings continued their monitoring of their respective sectors.[/hider]