Preparations for War (Invite Only)

[Merik Dragmire]

Deep within the Gerudo Fortress lies Merik's war room, a cavernous chamber furnished with a large round table, ten chairs, and, in an encircled section of the room, a large physical map of the world. Though there are ten places at the table he doesn't expect more than half will be filled, some of his people have died, some have simply gone missing, and he hasn't had the time to replace them all yet.

As he awaits the arrival of his advisers the King concentrates on marking changes on the map relevant to the topic at hand:

A wall rises in the southern Gerudo Desert, blocking off a vast section of the wastes from the rest of the desert. Behind the wall a large tower rises as well.

A number of ships appear docked at Pirate's Bay.

A handful of newly discovered islands, one bearing a large spring, rise from the 'sea'. Ruins of a city appear off the coast of that island and two figures, one red and one blue, stand in the spring.

A large armored figure rises from the Haunted Wasteland.

And so it continues as he waits, it's been a while since he's had to make so many changes at one time as he is doing now and it clearly speaks ill of events to come.

"Darkness and Shadow are falling over the land and soon war will be upon us..." he said as he watched sections rise and fall before his gaze. "We must be ready."

[Arezu]

It was while Arezu was returning from a meeting about trade routes and the best methods to keep them safe with all of the new dangers that seemed to be presenting themselves lately that she received the summons. She still did not know the full story of what had happened these past few weeks but she had heard the stories and the rumors and was glad to finally have a chance to discuss matters and what to do about them.

As she stepped into the war room her eyes trailed from Merik to the map and the changes that had been made to it. Her eyes scanned the empty seats, wondering just how many of them would be filled. Not many, she knew that much.

Arezu stepped forward and closed the distance between herself and the map, looking closely at it. Aside from a small frown, her face acted as a mask, hiding anything she might have been thinking. "Is it as bad as some of the rumors are making it out to be?"

[Merik Dragmire]

Merik watched her out of the corner of his eye as he continued working. Seeing her gaze turn to the council table he decided to address her unspoken question first.

"You, Mara, and T.R. are the only three that I was fully expecting to actually show. Layla has gone missing, I haven't managed to replace all my lost lieutenants aboard the Defiant, and I think my personal guard will take this as an opportunity to be away from me for a while." he said offhand as a few more changes occurred before he was satisfied with the map.

"As for the rumors, though I've yet to hear any of them I'm sure that none of them have gotten a full grasp on the situation at hand and as such the matters are probably a lot worse than the rumors put it...unless the rumors are saying it's the end of the world, those might be dead on...unfortunately we only know what has happened to be certain."

[Tabula Rasa]

x x

Tactfully late, that's the best way to put it. Fashionably would imply that T.R. cared about appearances, and strategically would mean she was thinking more than she was about the situation. No, for the Hylian/Human hybrid this wasn't exactly her domain. Talk of war among the Gerudo wasn't her field, as she wasn't a Gerudo. She was often told she could've been one, considering her guile and way, but those people often changed their opinion shortly thereafter, depending on the situation. Some people still related her burning them to the Gerudo, something about fire and the desert. Some people were surprisingly clear when set on fire.

Still T.R. sauntered into the war room and looked around, letting out a low whistle. "One would say you were compensating for something, Capt'n," she said knowingly before drawing up her chair and sitting in it sidelong with her legs crossed over one of the arms. "So who're we fighting today? More Hylian Knights? Cleaning the desert of some scourge? Or is this something more Gerudo related and I'm a special invitee?" she said with a giggle, carving idly at the arm of the chair with one of those vicious clawed gauntlets.

"Darkness can spread all it wants, but fire will always light it up," she said in almost a sing-song voice, her eyes and attention focused on her carving which, as far as could be discerned, was a stick figure surrounded by fire.

[Arezu]

At the mentioning of Layla going missing, her frown deepened for just a moment. It was there and gone so quickly that one might doubt whether it had been there at all. She would never admit it but Merik going out on that ship and getting into all sorts of trouble worried her. Arezu knew that he had a good crew, but it seemed as though they never all made it back and she couldn't help but wonder if there would come a day when her king would be one of those among the dead or missing.

Her thoughts were pulled away from Layla and the pirates when he mentioned the end of the world. Arezu let out a soft sigh and took a seat. "So the rumors do have some truth to them. Guess things will be getting more interesting around here." She couldn't help but have the ghost of a smile cross her face at the thought of getting to fight and test herself against such strong opponents.

She looked up from her musings when TR walked in and nodded to the other female. "Hello, Tabula Rasa." Arezu had mixed feelings about the woman. She felt as though she should trust her, seeing as she was one of Merik's right hand pirates, but Arezu still felt as though she could not fully put her faith in this one just yet. Perhaps once she got to know her a little better.

[Merik Dragmire]

"I'll catch Mara up when she arrives so we don't have to take any more time than necessary. As you both are aware there have been a string of attacks and environmental cataclysms that have struck Hyrule of late. Unfortunately it is likely that most of the blame will be directed here at the desert and more importantly those who dwell here. There have always been scapegoats to have the blame placed upon when a real target cannot be found and as it stands we represent three of the four primary scapegoats used for, at the very least the last few decades: Gerudo, Pirates, and Hybrids; with the fourth being the Monsters. Of the four it is fairly common knowledge by this point that I have granted Nightmare and his followers a domain in the southern desert and so most likely when accusations start being thrown it'll be at the two scapegoats coexisting.

Now with all of that out of the way we'll start at the beginning of these problems, hopefully figure out an ideal strategy for our protection, and possibly find a clue that has been overlooked into the identity of the attackers. Now if you'll turn your attention here we will begin..." Merik said as he indicated the map where things looked began animating as he mentioned them.

"A few weeks ago was Zelda hosted her Masquerade Ball, a few days later the Defiant set sail for Pirate's Bay to resupply before setting out to sea. A week after setting out we docked once more and began to load up. The following day news reached me that someone was attacking the islands with elemental magics, namely fire and ice, so I set out with a galley to investigate. The attackers were a pair of witches named Koume and Kotake, they were also the priestesses I encountered beneath the Spirit Temple ten years ago who advised me to take the Gerudo to sea and they also claim to be my great-great-great-etc grandmothers; they were searching for the Fountain of Youth, which they found. They did make use of the Fountain but they also left with a Fairy Sword that they brought out with them.

Simultaneously a Wind Mage attacked the Minish Woods, a giant figure in black mail attacked Faron Forest, and a dark knight attacked Lake Hylia. While I cannot say for certain what the Wind Mage and Giant hoped to find, according to one of our crewman the knight at Lake Hylia was actually being controlled by a Sorceress who took a Harp with her before disappearing. Presumably they also sought magical items but we didn't have anyone there to account it."

He paused to allow them to digest it all and offer up any questions or thoughts that they had up to the point.

[ruma]

Ruma, as usual, was late to the meeting. She thought she finally had it, one of her inventions was complete. But alas, it sputtered out and died on her, leaving her face a sooty mess.

As she entered the room Merik was just finishing his speech about magical items. Ruma was thrilled by magic, and if she could combine it with science, it would be all sorts of amazing. She just had to figure out all the right quirks.

"Sorry I'm late cuz, caught up with work again. The fuel drive keeps sputtering out at the last minute, and the propulsion gauge won't stabilize. If I can just find a more powerful fuel source the line won't keep burning out on me. Anyway, what did I miss?" She frequently got lost in her technobabble. This one was simpler than most to explain, but the problem was complex. She wiped some soot away from her face before examining the other faces present. Arezu and Tabula. Arezu was a good Gerudo, and a worthy ally. Tabula she wasn't as sure of. They shared a gift for fire magic, but Tabula seemed...irresponsible with it.

[Kotone]

XX

There was no way Kotone was going to missing this as it was a way to learn more and get threw Merik's head they did not need to go to war. However no one told her about the meeting since it was invite only and even more only her cousin told her. That only few mins ago when she rushed off to the meeting. Kotone was not ready as there was a lot of things she wanted to get to help in the meeting. However she only grab a note book and pen as she race down the hall and in to the meeting room.

She looked over to see her Cousin already here and ready to help out. She looked around as she looked at who else was here. Her eyes spotted TR as she glare at her. What she give to cut that women's head off right now if Merik was not in this room. She goes and walked in going to Merik as she hit him over the head with her not book. She gave him a look like you should of told me and you should of known better. Then she sat down wondering what she missed in the little time the meeting started.

She open her note book as there was a fairy and TR drawing in her book with daggers stab in them. If Merik looked to see he know what she meant by that. She can write sand script just find but pictures seem to have a bigger impact sometimes. She slip the page to a clean on as she looked at him wondering what is going on.

[Merik Dragmire]

Merik smirked as his relatives arrived, he hadn't expected Ruma to be able to drag herself away from her work and he hadn't told Kotone to avoid giving her a reason to start a fight with T.R.

Ah well, can't keep them separated forever... he thought just before the notebook hit him, he got ready to respond in kind when he caught sight of the drawings in the notebook and just shook his head.

"A Wind Mage attacked the Minish Woods, a Black Knight attacked Faron Forest, a Sorceress stole a Harp from Lake Hylia, and two witches, who happened to be the priestesses I talked to in the Spirit Temple many years ago and who may be our great-great-great-great-grandmothers, stole a Fairy Sword from the Fountain of Youth." the King replied, quickly bringing his cousins up to speed.

"These attacks occurred simultaneously and around the time that they were winding down three more events occurred: Death Mountain erupted for the first time in well over a century; parts of the City in the Sky broke free and fell to the earth; and a massive burst of light, visible for many miles, exploded from within the ruins of the Temple of Time." he stopped as the map set into motion reflecting the changes.

"The eruption of Death Mountain could be coincidental, it is a volcano and therefore bound to erupt again at some point, but the events in the City in the Sky and the Temple of Time point to a major use of magic to achieve the results."

[Arezu]

Arezu looked down with a troubled look on her face. So the rumors were true, things were as bad as people had been saying. She had been holding on to some hope that perhaps they were just exaggerating when they said the world was falling apart but now to hold on to such hope would be absurd. "I see."

She became lost in thought for some time as she considered the implications of these things and what path the Gerudo should take in this situation. Granted that was the subject of this meeting and to think on it too hard without hearing the others' opinions would be something of a waste she at least wanted to have an idea of where she stood on it.

It wasn't until Merik was about to speak again that she realized that two others had shown up. A small smile lit up her face as she greeted Ruma and Kotone. Her eyes flicked over to TR and she wondered briefly if there would be a confrontation at some point. Arezu made a mental note to be ready to break up a fight before finally speaking. "Nice of you to join us, Ruma, Kotone."

What smile she had faded as Merik spoke on the incidents. And there came the final conformations on the rumors. So the sky was falling and the earth was rebelling. Arezu let out a bit of a sigh before shifting in her seat. "Do we know what the significance or use of the items taken were?"

[Merik Dragmire]

"I'd bet half the fleet that they're magical but aside from that obvious fact we have no clear understanding of their power or connection. Koume and Kotake left after they found the sword and apparently the Shadow Sorceress did the same after taking the harp; I think it's safe to assume the other two did the same." Merik responded as he prepared the final segment of intelligence for the meeting.

"Two days ago the Defiant docked back in the cave and while making my way here I was distracted by a loud screech...I wouldn't be surprised if any of you heard it across the desert. Following the sound I found a giant Iron Knuckle, at least twenty feet tall, making it's way across the desert on a mission to 'purify' something. It quickly proved to be violent and with the assistance of three travelers I managed to kill it. Upon it's death a glowing Shard of metal fell from it's armor and landed at my feet, when I touched it it transformed into this ring." he paused as he removed the ring and sat it on the table for the others to inspect if they wished.

"Suspecting Nightmare of being behind the attack I went to speak with him. He claims innocence and told me that a giant monster formed from scrap metal had attacked Ordona Village as well. This monster also left behind a Shard which he claimed for his own. We have a theory that the Master Sword might have been destroyed within the Temple of Time and the Shards are fragmented pieces of it scattered across the land.

Returning to the Fortress yesterday I found the Fairy Queen trying to gain an audience with me. She confirmed Nightmare's story of the attack on Ordona having fought beside him. She also told me that the Shard he had claimed had actually taken the form of a little metal creature. She was also the one to confirm that the explosion had occurred within the Temple of Time and not somewhere else in Faron. Unfortunately she had no other information of significance on the matter that I wasn't already aware of."

[ruma]

Ruma kinda sorta got all the stuff he was saying. She was planning science in her head as he spoke of attacks and iron knuckles in the desert. She really only snapped to attention as Merik brought up the shards. When he set the ring down on the table, she quickly snatched it and examined it. She didn't need a history book to know the power of the Master Sword. If this was really a shard of the Master Sword, it must have an incredible amount of latent energy coursing through it.

"Merik I think this may be it. This is what I've been searching for. A piece of the Master Sword would definitely have enough power to run the ignition thrusters. Merik, you have to let me run experiments on the ring. With this kind of power, we could run practically any of my creations on full power." She hugged the ring, and looked to him with pleading eyes. This was her best chance to get the airship airborne. Nothing else really mattered to her in this meeting, but now she was glad she came.

[Kotone]

XX

Kotone nodded to the lady as she listen to the information. It seems the reports she been getting are all true. However the pieces seem to be leading to the down fall of the Hero. As all the items that post to make the hero strong and stop evil are getting taken or destroyed. As he put the rings she reach to look at it see if it might be something from the history books. However before she could look at it Ruma took it. Her eyes widen as she knew what that girl was going to do with it. She shook her head and looked at Merik saying let her see it before she destroy it look.

She did not like the information confirmed by the Queen Fairy at all However Merik did but she did not. She waved a bit as she shrug a bit. She flip the page in her book as she started to write. 'First off How would anyone know where the temple of time is? Last time I heard it was in the lost woods and it almost impossible to find anything in there. Second I know from records only royal family/ sages or the hero can enter the camber of the Master Sword. Unless I'm mistaken. But most of all this all sounds like it is a per war thing... or a thing to stop the "Hero." It sound like the balance if good and evil is about to get broken soon or wall are coming down.'

She wrote then turn the page and started to write a little bit more. 'From my guesses and plots of history. Either a big event about to happen or people of great power are going to disappear or change sides. AKA Sages, Zelda and maybe great leaders of each race but mostly in the bigger towns' she wrote as she hand the book to him to read. There was no way she can sign or gesture that all with out people getting confused on what she trying to say.

[Merik Dragmire]

"Ruma, I realize you are anxiously looking for a power source for the airship but based on how this Shard transformed at my touch I don't think it'll serve well for your needs. I am going to have some of our scouts begin searching for them, if there are two there are bound to be more. If we can find a piece that hasn't connected with someone and you touch it first it may turn into the exact item you seek." Merik replied calmly, partly out of fear for the ring in case the tests turned volatile.

No sooner had he spoken than Kotone handed her notebook to him. He quickly read over her words before responding.

"The Lost Woods are part of the Faerie's domain, they can find anything within it that they seek. Not only that but I have heard that the Temple ruins can be seen from the air. I've also heard the stories of the Blade's resting place being inaccessible to all but a select few but with things in such a state of upheaval it might have been unveiled. As for everything else, it wouldn't surprise me if the balance of power swung wildly in the coming days. The most important thing is that we do not come out on the bottom of the pile."

[Mara]

Mara ripped her scarf off from around her head, letting her black hair hang around her shoulders for once. If anyone had anything to say, they'd be in for it. She was not in a good mood. The swamp had been a bloody hell to get out of, and only getting out now could only mean she'd spent days in there. Shit. She needed to bathe.

She threw the door open and sat down, her arms folded, her legs crossed. "What did you want, Merik?" she snapped, took a minute, then sighed. "Sorry. It took forever to get out of that swamp."

Then, she glared daggers at Tabula. "Don't you even comment on how I smell."

[Kotone]

XX

Kotone nodded as she still like to go and see it after all. Before she could even write anything someone came threw the door. Well a smell came in before the person did. Of course both was a great shock to see who the smell was coming from. It was her youngest cousin the magic user of the group or healer. She gave a little wave to her as she held her noise. She at this point wish she could not smell then no talk. She looked to Ruma wondering if she had something to help if not she might play her song just to see if that wash away the smell.

[Merik Dragmire]

"By your oh-so-pleasant attitude, I take it you failed to locate the treasure you sought?" Merik asked with a smirk, remembering the reason she had disappeared into the swamps. His mirth only lasted a few seconds before he relayed everything that he had covered in the last few minutes.

"Now that we're all on the same page we need to figure out what to do if people start pointing fingers our way...so my advisors, advise me."

[Arezu]

"But what if I were to tell you that you smelled of the sweetest roses?" She said with a joking sort of smile that seemed to fade almost as soon as it had appeared. Arezu listened carefully to what Merik had to say as he detailed the past events for a second time, a frown appearing on her face as he went on.

She shifted in her seat and pulled one leg up under her, tilting her head back to glance at the ceiling with a contemplative sort of look on her face. "And knowing people they'll want to point fingers and who better than at us?" She let out a bit of a sigh and looked back over to Merik. "I suppose there is little evidence to prove our innocence in the matter?"

She leaned forward with her chin rested on her hand. "Perhaps volunteering some of our forces to help aid those affected? It would be a waste of resources but it may paint us in a positive light."

[ruma]

Ruma was examining the ring further. But it was not her place to take it, so she slid it back to Merik along the prep table.

"You want advice Merik? Don't change anything, don't do anything to draw suspicion towards the desert. You control the strongest fleet in all of Hyrule. Men are lining up to serve on your ships, and your fortress is nigh impregnable. And soon you'll have control over the skies. We're walking a fine line, but we're walking it with a balance beam of hardened steel, or something like that. I'm not a very good adviser, I'm a technician. Give me the resources I need to finish my projects and see what happens from there."