[center] [img]https://i.imgur.com/z6cC6JC.png[/img] [img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/200312/bd228c426d0da7459764cb788d45b1cd.png[/img] [Sub].:⋮Meetings⋮:.[/Sub] [/center] It was later in the day after the incident with the wendigos that a high-priority meeting was to be held at Penrose Beacon's headquarters. The meeting was held in a private meeting room, and included Ishtar, Rachel, Elora, and Alicia, with a special invitation given to Penny. Once the attendees had gathered, Rachel began to speak. "As the members of the Beacon who have arrived already know, this meeting was meant to be held earlier today. However, due to the wendigo outbreak, it had to be postponed." She read out of a document she had prepared, while Ishtar continued praying with her eyes closed and Elora typed away on her laptop. "As a result, we now have more topics to cover on our agenda today. Let's start with the more urgent one." She activated the projector at the back of the room, which showed an image of the letter left behind by the March Hare. "As you can see, this letter is directly addressed to the magical community of Penrose. Paladin Seraph, have similar messages been delivered previously to this city?" She asked Alicia. Seated nearby, Alicia was somewhat concerned and annoyed. She’d thought things had wrapped up well, only to suddenly learn that they hadn’t. That was Penrose for you, she supposed. Always some new problem cropping up. She looked over the message for a few moments before shaking her head. [color=aba000]”The only one I can think of is when Cindy rolled into town to try and become Queen. But that’s the only one that comes to mind.”[/color] [color=9e0039][u][b]“That also was more to claim the city as her territory.”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would add sitting not far from Alicia. [color=9e0039][u][b]“Not to try and convince people to leave their Patrons. It was more a local and personal thing compared to this”[/b][/u][/color] [color=9e0039][u][b]“This Wonderland also has another goal.”[/b][/u][/color] She would add. [color=9e0039][u][b]“I didn’t hear it personally, but according to a couple of magicals that were on site at the industrial district, the one who left that letter was overheard talking about the Nexus.”[/b][/u][/color] "Cindy's proclamation was indeed noted in the local records," Rachel responded, taking a folder out from the pile of documents in the table. "But no other written messages." When Penny mentioned the Nexus, Ishtar's eyes opened, alarming Rachel. "The Nexus…" Ishtar spoke; her words were gravely serious in tone. "If what you said is true, Penny, then…Penrose is in peril." Rachel adjusted her glasses. "Cardinal, I believe this is not a matter to be concerned about. The Nexus is but a theoretical concept to explain the convergence of magical phenomenons. It has not been proven by the arcane community." Ishtar looked saddened by the rebuttal. "It is real…And because it is, it is sought after…And we all will pay the price." Alicia shrugged, conceding the argument where Cindy was concerned. Sure, it didn’t line up perfectly but it was the closest she could think of where a blanket message such as this was concerned. She continued to listen as Penny mentioned the Nexus, something that proved concerning to Cardinal Ishtar. [color=aba000]“Well, even if it is real, I can’t imagine that it’s that easy to harness. Otherwise everyone would have done it by now,”[/color] she observed [color=9e0039][u][b]“And even if it isn’t real, the fact that Wonderland thinks it is, and is here, makes it a concern anyway. They’ll do whatever they think they need to do to exploit the Nexus one way or another I’d wager.”[/b][/u][/color] was Penny's opinion on it. [color=9e0039][u][b]“Prepare for the worst and hope for the best."[/b][/u][/color] Ishtar nodded with a concerned look."Yes, we must prepare in any case, so we can resolve this matter peacefully." Rachel crossed her arms. "In that case…Penrose can officially surrender once Wonderland's so-called liberators arrive." Ishtar gasped. "Inquisitor, surely you don't mean that?" Rachel nodded. "We do not have the numbers or power to mount a meaningful resistance. While we have made progress, the Ascendancy has not recovered yet from the massacre at the rave. The local Beacon troops are also too few in numbers and too undisciplined to keep the line." Ishtar trembled. "But…Aren't you supposed to be Beacon's best? Their most valiant crusaders?" Rachel sighed. "Our task force is sent to handle problematic communities, not warzones. This is a political matter anyway, and not our responsibility." Alicia did a double take, glancing between Rachel and Ishtar as the former revealed her strategy for dealing with this problem. Immediate surrender wasn’t something she’d have expected from the stern leader, though she chafed at the opinion of the local branch. For a moment she wondered if mind control was involved, but she quickly dismissed that from her thoughts. They’d dealt with that already, right? [color=aba000]“Leaving aside the matter of an actual battle, we’ve co-existed with local rulers before. It will only become a problem if they force us to renounce the Spark and our sworn oaths. So we need to figure out what their end goal is.”[/color] She then shifted to look at Elora. [color=aba000]“Do we know anything about these Wonderland guys?”[/color] Hopefully her access to the archives would yield some answers. [color=9e0039][u][b]“Wait, you can’t be seriously considering just standing aside and letting them sweep in!”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would interject, honestly baffled and more than a bit angry at the presumed plan. [color=9e0039][u][b]“They’re responsible for the death of at least five Beacon members. You can’t honestly think that they will make Penrose a better place, or even just leave it as it is!”[/b][/u][/color] "You don't understand the situation!" Rachel slammed her hand on the table. "Of course I want justice for our fallen comrades! But we aren't talking about some rag-tag group of renegades here, but a sovereign nation! Even if we pitted all of our forces, it would be meaningless!" While Rachel and Penny were arguing, Elora projected a new image on the wall; this time it showed Wonderland's coat of arms, resembling a stylized heart with the letter W inside it. "Wonderland is an independent kingdom ruled by the Queen of Hearts. As for the rest…" She closed her eyes. "...That information is classified." Ishtar was distraught. "Classified? But why?" Elora shook her head. "This is a very sensitive matter to the Beacon organization. Any further intelligence has to be approved by the Choir, if not the Ecclesiarch herself." Ishtar closed her eyes, and sighed. "Then…I suppose we must. Paladin Seraph, you understand, right?" Rachel adjusted her glasses. "Wait, you don't actually mean…" Though they had information, it seemed that actually getting to it was more difficult than expected. Alicia wasn’t about to go into this encounter blind as she frowned. Especially when, as Penny noted, they needed to teach these Wonderland guys a lesson. [color=aba000]“That’s not good enough,”[/color] she mused, before looking to the Cardinal. [color=aba000]“...We ask nicely, and if it doesn’t work then we hack the servers?”[/color] [color=9e0039][u][b]“Sounds like more than a fair idea to me”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would nearly snarl as she stood from her seat. [color=9e0039][u][b]“I will not abandon this city, nor anyone within it.”[/b][/u][/color] She’d give a pointed look at Rachel as she spoke [color=9e0039][u][b]“Or have you decided that my title was merely for show Inquisitor? If this queen wants a war I am more than willing to meet her with force. With or without your backing.”[/b][/u][/color] Rachel was nonplussed at Alicia and Penny's suggestions, particularly the latter one. "Don't you dare! Hacking the Choir's servers is treason against the organization! Even suggesting it could be tried as heresy!" Once again, the table was slammed, but more softly by Ishtar. "It won't come to that! Because I believe that we can receive whatever information we need, even if we were to ask from the Ecclesiarch herself!" Rachel grunted, and crumpled the paper she held in her hand. "So you're going to take these two with you to Beacon's most sacred home? A Paladin Seraph with little experience and a monster? An outrage!" "But one I have to make!" Ishtar had a determined look on her face. She then turned to the other two. "One of the other topics was for me to personally report on Penrose to the Choir. Will you join me on my journey?" She asked. "This could be your only chance." [color=9e0039][u][b]“When would we leave?”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would ask, shifting her attention to Ishtar. [color=9e0039][u][b]“Because if I know Penrose, we won’t have a lot of time before Wonderland makes another showing, and since they are a significant threat preparations are going to be needed.”[/b][/u][/color] The outburst by Rachel earned an internal smile from Alicia. Now that was what she expected from Rachel. Not that she was wrong, but generally speaking Alicia was not about to back down on this. [color=aba000]"Well, I'm not taking 'no' for an answer when they're knocking on our door,"[/color] she pointed out. Leaving aside anything else, that would be nigh suicidal. Still, the thought of meeting with someone so high placed was thrilling. It was validation, once more, for how far she had come. [color=aba000]”Of course I’ll go,”[/color] How could she refuse? Ishtar smiled, seemingly relieved that the two had agreed. "It is decided. We'll leave tomorrow morning." Rachel adjusted her glasses with a grumble. "Bah! Go ahead then, see if I care!" She quickly skimmed through the rest of her papers, and then grabbed them. "We can end the meeting here. Elora, send a message that the Cardinal is to attend with two representatives." She stood up from her seat and walked towards the door. However, she stopped there. "Penny, Alicia…Good luck. You're going to need it." Leaving those parting words in the air, she left. Ishtar sighed. "Now then, I must prepare for the journey. I advise you two do the same. Goodbye." She bowed, and also left with slow steps, leaving the two alone with Elora, her typing filling the dead air. Penny let out a disgruntled huff at Rachel’s departure. The fact that the rest of Beacon at large would be willing to simply abandon this city was so far out of what Penny had expected might be a possibility she was still having trouble processing it. She’d take a moment just staring at the sigil of the Wonderland court. Eventually she would shake her head and turn towards Alicia. [color=9e0039][u][b]“I’ve got things to take care of I suppose”[/b][/u][/color] She’d say. [color=9e0039][u][b]“I just want you to know that regardless of what they say I’m not going to be giving up Penrose or the Sanctuary without a fight.”[/b][/u][/color] [color=9e0039][u][b]“So I’ll keep a room open for you if you end up needing one.”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would toss one last look at Elora, face a neutral mask, before she too turned to leave. She had a scientist to call and a ship to bring in. Alicia wasn’t sure what Rachel expected to happen, but she wasn’t too concerned about the outburst and her all but storming off. That said, she was more worried about this Wonderland business at the moment. She’d go to whomever she needed to in order to get answers about what was on their doorstep. Turning to Penny, she flashed her friend a smile. [color=aba000]”Thanks, but we’re not out of luck just yet. I’ll see you tomorrow.”[/color] They just needed to have a good plan, she was sure of it. For now though she also went to return to the business that needed tending to. It seemed life was about to get very interesting.