The Eternal Banquet 2 [IC]

[Shaoten]

Alexander stood at the top of the gates, looking outwards, thinking. He couldn't spend too long in the banquet, in Luxa at all. His chest seared with the pain from the shard. He suspected that Jax was there, but alone he wouldn't stand a chance. He knew Aegin was working with him, they had always been good friends. But even in war, he conspired with the side that's winning. The Cult wouldn't dare show its face, not with the Tallan Troops patrolling the borders. Getting there alone had been easy, and army would be impossible.

Turning back to the city, he sighed. He needed to get to his work.

[Stelarus]

At the Expo,
Asherah arrives at the bottom floor of the System Corp. building again and looks around at some of the machines on the walls, thinking "These look like refrigerators, why? they're certainly not showing something as mundane as that are they?"

At the Banquet (sort of),
Diana leaves the banquet and decides to just explore the city, she takes the longest possible route from the Great Horned Keep all the way to the Black Gate Arena.

[Shaoten]

Alexander falls into step next to her silently, putting his hands in his pockets. "Dangerous for a lady of your stature to walk alone in a place such as this, don't you think?" Smiling, he walks with her towards the arena.

[Primordial Luxa]

Morpheus had spent countless hours before arriving thinking about this choice, He would be publicly revealing his abilities to Luxa and countless others. He did not doubt his ability to kill but he did have concerns to how others would react. "I'd like that." He said to her his hands taking refugee in his pockets. He walked towards the building looking at the structure giving a faint smile to it for reasons only he could understand. His eyes went to the signs one the pointed towards a darker hallway with a sign saying "Gladiators".

"Is this were I head?" He asked Thinking this would be the placed where his battle would be scheduled. "Also is this were we part?"

She nods "follow that hall down to the prep rooms, they'll fix you up will the proper supplies and give you instructions." She begins walking up a set of stairs while talking to him "I’ll see which of the nobility is presiding over this event and take their place to watch you."

Aegin smiles at the man, his eyes curious but sadistic. "How wonderful. Yes, I have noticed much here that catches my curiosity. Luxans truly are the definition of beauty, are they not? The perfect beings. Tell me... How did you all become of this?"

The man smiles at the question signalling that he had heard it many times before. "No great shift of technology is completely without a shift of conceptual thought. The emergence of the laws of arcano-tech gave us a new view about everything. The physical proof of what we came from shattered all notions of creationism, the reveal of alien life destroyed our feelings of uniqueness, and the insight into other dimensions showed us that all places, times and spaces are meaningless." He pauses briefly feeling his pulse with a pair of fingers.
"Tell me friend, whats your profession?"

At the expo...
Asherah had considered shoving Jax off the rooftop once they had gotten up there out of sheer boredom, his speech on Stis needing new eyes was a typical recruitment speech. Honestly any illusion of power over that nation of thieves was just that, an illusion. Having an army of assassins at her command sounded fun, no doubt, but she knew that Stis went through people of power like sharks went through teeth. It was a hard offer to resist none the less. Her mother had eventually caved into her request for an education in some of the more basic aspects of Subterfuge and stealth; but she did crave more than that. An unhealthy desire as viewed by her immediate family, hence why as she walked back down the stairs she almost considered throwing the card away but something stopped her. Her family might despise the violent arts which she had taken an interest in, but they would have to turn a blind eye if such arts were used to further their own goals. The only problem remaining would be to convince them that this little venture of hers would benefit project Haruki. She resolved to think about this later when she retired to her room, possibly with more information on what Stis has to offer. For now she carefully placed the card with the date and time (which she attempted to memorize just in case) in a zippered inside pocket of her dark velvet jacket for safekeeping and headed the rest of the way down to see what was in that pit on the ground floor of the System corp. building.

The pit appears to be filled with some sort of living creature that seems to baffle and distort every notion of biology that Asherah ever had. The thing is an amorphous sludge rather than any traditions form and is of a deep black color bubbling with a heat like tar. However this thing shows an obvious sentience as from withing the dark colored soup eyes float and form on the surface to gaze at those around it. These strange multi-pupiled eyes lazily gaze at Asherah before melting back into the smile as more organs and appendages appear. Mouths, puesdopods, tentacles and thunderer of unknown fleshly prices appear across the thing before dissolving to be replaced my more.

A sign next to the pit reads "Dont feed the Shoggoth"

At the Banquet...
Diana steps carefully onto the spot where the representative was and feels the chill. She immediately starts scanning the crowd for him, even if she does spot him (which is unlikely) after a few seconds of apparent confusion she gives up and goes to find a drink that is non-alcoholic (which probably takes some time knowing Luxan tastes but she likes to keep her wits about her) and then prepares to leave the banquet once she's done with it.

It was a difficult search but most of non-alcoholism beverages seemed to be edibleness as well. Liquid Heroine shot glasses, lightning spiked water and sulphuric grapejuice being some of the more tame beverages. However before she is able to leave she attractes the attentions of a very luminous individual.
"Madame Diana of Stelarus?" he asks

[Stelarus]

At the expo...
Asherah had considered shoving Jax off the rooftop once they had gotten up there out of sheer boredom, his speech on Stis needing new eyes was a typical recruitment speech. Honestly any illusion of power over that nation of thieves was just that, an illusion. Having an army of assassins at her command sounded fun, no doubt, but she knew that Stis went through people of power like sharks went through teeth. It was a hard offer to resist none the less. Her mother had eventually caved into her request for an education in some of the more basic aspects of Subterfuge and stealth; but she did crave more than that. An unhealthy desire as viewed by her immediate family, hence why as she walked back down the stairs she almost considered throwing the card away but something stopped her. Her family might despise the violent arts which she had taken an interest in, but they would have to turn a blind eye if such arts were used to further their own goals. The only problem remaining would be to convince them that this little venture of hers would benefit project Haruki. She resolved to think about this later when she retired to her room, possibly with more information on what Stis has to offer. For now she carefully placed the card with the date and time (which she attempted to memorize just in case) in a zippered inside pocket of her dark velvet jacket for safekeeping and headed the rest of the way down to see what was in that pit on the ground floor of the System corp. building.

The pit appears to be filled with some sort of living creature that seems to baffle and distort every notion of biology that Asherah ever had. The thing is an amorphous sludge rather than any traditions form and is of a deep black color bubbling with a heat like tar. However this thing shows an obvious sentience as from withing the dark colored soup eyes float and form on the surface to gaze at those around it. These strange multi-pupiled eyes lazily gaze at Asherah before melting back into the smile as more organs and appendages appear. Mouths, puesdopods, tentacles and thunderer of unknown fleshly prices appear across the thing before dissolving to be replaced my more.

A sign next to the pit reads "Dont feed the Shoggoth"

At the Banquet...
Diana steps carefully onto the spot where the representative was and feels the chill. She immediately starts scanning the crowd for him, even if she does spot him (which is unlikely) after a few seconds of apparent confusion she gives up and goes to find a drink that is non-alcoholic (which probably takes some time knowing Luxan tastes but she likes to keep her wits about her) and then prepares to leave the banquet once she's done with it.

It was a difficult search but most of non-alcoholism beverages seemed to be edibleness as well. Liquid Heroine shot glasses, lightning spiked water and sulphuric grapejuice being some of the more tame beverages. However before she is able to leave she attractes the attentions of a very luminous individual.
"Madame Diana of Stelarus?" he asks

At the expo...
Asherah, looks at it with a small smile on her face that she was doing a poor job of hiding; yep things just got interesting, now she needed to find someone to ask what the heck a 'shoggoth' is and what it eats; and where she could find some food for it but that would be discovered much later.

At the Banquet... (gah! sorry shouten faction, she'll still take that walk but it will have to wait)
Diana tilts her head slightly as she looks at him. She had interacted with Luxan individuals in the past, although none of them looked like this last she remembered. However she was aware that Luxans changed their appearances like most people changed clothes so she said..
"Have I met you before somewhere?"

[Vastime Deathplane]

Morpheus nodded before heading down the hallway not before planting a quick kiss on her forehead then departing towards the hallway. It was easy to me ugre the narrow seemly lit hallway after serving it purpose he was met in a room where a number of men resided all in different types of armor that seem to be waiting their battle. He was greeted by a rather tall man in a suit who was leaning on the wall with a clip board in his hand.

"Ah Morpheus I'm guessing, I was alerted of your arrival not long ago." He said not looking up but a smile
Gracing his lips. "So how will you be fighting? I already have a match made for you."

"I will be going with only my hands, No armor." He said calmly but he noticed the man eye raise, "That's a bold move he's going in with a revolver." He said with a Shurgs seeing Morpheus was set on this. "If that's all head to the arena, follow the lights." He said before sending Morpheus on his way and speaking to someone to relay this news to whoever would be over watching the battle.

Morpheus saw the gates arena, A large spiked gate awaiting his arrival that seemed to be calling for blood. He waited as the crowd cheered for his name to be called and the Gate lifted. He reflected on his thoughts as he waited wondering if it was stupid or smart to reveal his greatest strength in this event, Might as well and make it.. Spectacular.

[Primordial Luxa]

At the expo...
Asherah, looks at it with a small smile on her face that she was doing a poor job of hiding; yep things just got interesting, now she needed to find someone to ask what the heck a 'shoggoth' is and what it eats; and where she could find some food for it but that would be discovered much later.

It is not long before she is approached by one of the patrolling representatives. He is tall man wearing a red cape like dress, and his entire rigid body seems to be made of ceramics or porcelain. He appears like a walking china doll and the smile on his face conjures up images of car salesmen. He leans against the railing observing the creature before speaking.

“I see your admiring our famous Shoggoth” he said in a slight French accent. “These creatures are essentially biological nanotechnology. They have the ability to adapt to any condition and to grow whatever tools they need to accomplish their mission.” He gestures around the building to the machines “These Shoggoths are larger more complex version of what we are selling here. Miss have you ever heard of mechanosynthesis?”

At the Banquet... (gah! sorry shouten faction, she'll still take that walk but it will have to wait)
Diana tilts her head slightly as she looks at him. She had interacted with Luxan individuals in the past, although none of them looked like this last she remembered. However she was aware that Luxans changed their appearances like most people changed clothes so she said..
"Have I met you before somewhere?"

He removes the mask to display an unfamiliar face that bore an apologetic smile. He gave a slight bow, “No my lady we have not been formally introduced” he said while a pair of carns appeared beside him carrying a large metallic case embroidered with a woodland design. “I am Earl Lloyd Niles, head professor of RADICAL, I’m here to offer your mother a gift that I hope you could deliver.” He snapped on of the long appendages and the carns opened the case revealing a ornate pull string bow.

[Tallan Corps]

Jax spent the time until his bout practicing on punching bags. He had perfected the Brixxan form to an art, but it required at least an hour of preparation beforehand. After finishing a specifically intense set, he took a small break, wiping down his face with a towel. Looking up, he sees a man with a clipboard, writing quietly.

"You're Mr. Jaxton Fergeit, I assume?" He asked, not looking up. Jax nodded, dropping his towel next to him, and resting his arms on his knees. The man made a note, then sighed. "Will you be bringing in any weapons or armor?" Jax smiled, and shook his head, grabbing the towel and wiping off his chest and arms. He doubted it would be long before his match. The man raised his eyes from the clipboard, and looked him over. "I can assume that you're not very interested in the rest of the combatants, are you?" Jax laughed and stood, stretching.

"You're quite right there. I'm here to see what Vastime has to offer." The man nodded and wrote something down, before turning to leave. Jax smiled. "One moment, can I ask you a question?" The man stopped and looked at him. Jax looked at him. "What are your regulations on fire?" The man with the clipboard, instead of answering him, simply turned away and strode out of the training room. Jax grinned, and the punching bags behind him erupted into flame, before extinguishing immediately, reduced to ash.

"So that's how it is..."

[Neo Byzantine Empire]

Empress Theodora's flight was far from luxurious, though luxury never was something she'd been particularly fond of. The lack of any proper commercial flight in the Empire left the group with little other option than to take a decommissioned Military Aircraft converted to serve as a private method of transportation for important Government and Military Officials, namely; the Empress, Senate, Praetorian, and Higher-Ranking officers of the Military.

The massive C-130 found its way into Primordial Luxa, many of the Praetorian Guards escorting the Empress unnerved by the appearance of the Luxan capital, while the Empress looked on with indifference, another culture was another culture. To her, nothing could match the glory and beauty of Constantinople, though she could see elegance here, even if it was a vastly different elegance than what most Imperial Citizens were used to.

Upon landing, the Praetorian disembarked first, the century of highly trained, disciplined, well-equipped soldiers moving into a protective formation as the Empress left last, at the insistence of the Captain of the Praetorian, her personal bodyguard. As they prepared to march forth towards the Great Horned Keep, many among the Praetorian took a moment to take in their surroundings, not sure whether to fear this alien culture more, or their own Empress' wrath should she be angered.

[Primordial Luxa]

Empress Theodora's flight was far from luxurious, though luxury never was something she'd been particularly fond of. The lack of any proper commercial flight in the Empire left the group with little other option than to take a decommissioned Military Aircraft converted to serve as a private method of transportation for important Government and Military Officials, namely; the Empress, Senate, Praetorian, and Higher-Ranking officers of the Military.

The massive C-130 found its way into Primordial Luxa, many of the Praetorian Guards escorting the Empress unnerved by the appearance of the Luxan capital, while the Empress looked on with indifference, another culture was another culture. To her, nothing could match the glory and beauty of Constantinople, though she could see elegance here, even if it was a vastly different elegance than what most Imperial Citizens were used to.

Upon landing, the Praetorian disembarked first, the century of highly trained, disciplined, well-equipped soldiers moving into a protective formation as the Empress left last, at the insistence of the Captain of the Praetorian, her personal bodyguard. As they prepared to march forth towards the Great Horned Keep, many among the Praetorian took a moment to take in their surroundings, not sure whether to fear this alien culture more, or their own Empress' wrath should she be angered.

The great horned keep is a massive building covered in marvelous works of Gothic Tudor architecture. Each wall is made of a black obsidian rock that has geometrically befalling designs and patterns covering its surface and causing stress on mind similar to the sensation of staring at a monitor too long. Small pools of white hot magma appeared at the bottom of the steps as mechanical dragon like gargoyles at the top belched forth the substance. The doors to the build are open and inviting as a long and finely crafted silk carpet has been laid out for new arrivals and the only thing even remotely uninviting about the places is a group of four Luxan Immortals standing guard outside the doors.

They nod as your representatives enter the first room with is monolithic in scale. The room’s décor and furnishing is in a similar style as outside of the building, an ancient and sinister looking design with a modern twist. In the center of the room is a great circular pool of crystal clear water that appears to have a tint of some unnatural color and an ornate platform made of glass and crystal crosses the pool. A group of the nobles have shed their clothes and now nakedly lounged about in the overly sparkling waters.

The whole room seems alive with motion as drink and ordure servers move with an exhilarated haste as their trays are emptied in seconded by the hedonistic patrons. People don’t walk around the room so much as dance between locations. In the background a disturbingly majestic chorus plays, with a set of distorted notes and lyrical dissonance that comes from a band preforming against one of the walls. Specks of light seem to shine in the air and it takes a second to realize that slowly falling pieces of strangely metallic glass are floating through the air. This mechanical confetti light’s up the room with a sense of unearthly light and beauty.

The edges of the rooms are dominated by large tables containing row upon row of a variety of strange substances. Bowls of mutied hued and sweet smelling powders and pills are placed along sid what seems like an absurd amount of liquid filled springiness which people scoop up by the handful. Other tables are covered in glasses smelling of exotic and strange chemicals, with the scents of vodka, sulpher, wine and jet fuel reaching your nose.

Most of the people in the room are Luxans but a fair amount of foreign agents wander around the seating areas surrounding the pool. These areas have lavish lounges where the vairiety of people talk and revel in debauchery.

[Kingsmouth]

Mortimer Gilman arrives, warping in through mi-go teleportation technology. He exits the vehicle, and lights up a cigarette, on the assumption they don't have a smoking policy here.
"Sorry i'm late. What have I missed?"

[Stelarus]

At the expo...
Asherah smiles and says " no I'm afraid I haven't, care to explain this "mechanosynthesis"?

At the banquet...
Diana looks over the "bow" carefully. She quickly notes the multiple strings and the thankfully discreet gears and mechanisms of this... tool. She could not bring herself to call it a bow, although she knew there were people in Stelarus who would disagree and it was her job to represent them as well; refusing a gift that someone had put a lot of money into like this was certainly unthinkable. Nevertheless she was glad that this was a gift for her mother and not herself, she had no use for a bow that got easier and lighter to pull back the further you pulled, she wasn't the strongest person that she knew certainly but she was no weakling who needed assistance. She used her bow to improve herself, and this one could not do the job. As she was looking over the bow she kept her composure but part of her thought process worked it's way into her speach before she could stop it, luckily she only said;
"Did Lady Qwhen tell someone that she was physically ill?" she realized this slip almost immediately and attempted to look more confused at the sudden gift rather than exhasperated, a Luxan wouldn't understand.

[Ninjaron Empire]

Blade immediately calls out "Immortal Dreadlord,I ask to meet you" as he waits for a reply,he immediately looks for a refreshment table.

[Rofstinez]

As the four Rofstinezian planes touched down on the tarmac President Leon Clarke addressed his staff- "Alright gentlemen" he said wearily taking off the glasses which had previously shielded his eyes before setting them down with the piece of legislation he had been reading.
The president's staffers looked up, many of whom tried to snap out of a half-awake state.

"Let me make this perfectly clear; we are here on a goodwill mission, and any of you who do anything to imply otherwise towards or insult anybody especially and including our Luxan hosts will be dismissed so hard that you'll be lucky to get a job digging ditches when we get back home- assuming the Luxans allow you to leave at all. Do I make myself clear?"
A disjointed chorus of "yes sir's" followed the president's declaration.

"Good." Clarke firmly concluded before reclining back in his leather chair, staring at the warmly decorated interior of the plane as though he was looking at it for the first time. His moment of tranquility was soon shattered though by the warm but soft voice of his Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Turning to face the speaker with some small measure of feigned exasperation the president spoke- "Don't worry Marius, I can't fire you without a vote, you know that."
"Yes I do" replied the minister,"but sir, we-"

Before he could manage more the president cut him off- "We're late aren't we?"

The reply came; "Exceptionally so."

"Excellent!" President Clarke exuberantly stated. "Let's just hope he haven't missed too much yet."
Just then the Minister of Defense, Sophie Bolivar walked into the cabin from the mess area.
Sandwich in hand, she proceeded to brief the president;

"The 42 guards are getting off the plane now to secure the LZ and begin the unloading of our fighting Lemon Meerkats, cultural desserts and gourmet entrees, prototype space module, and XMV8 rifles along with the other small arms and ammunition, which as you know will serve as gifts to our hosts and as part of our national military and scientific display."

"Smashing!" The now clearly elated president remarked, as though he had expected an accident by that point "Perhaps we'll even get to meet some of the Luxan royal family if all continues to go well. Just remember that we needn't forget to acquire some cultural and military assets as well, understood?"

Almost sarcastically, Bolivar snapped back- "Of course sir, does that mean we shouldn't have the firing range set up? The Luxans offered some of those genetic mutations up as targets."

In an attempt to hide his initial shock the president stopped himself from losing his composure and responded in a slow but deliberate manner- "Of course not! You have the firing range set up; using the mutants as targets is up to your discretion, just make sure that people of all nations are welcome to try our food and weaponry... Even Stisians."

The compliant response "Of course." came as the plane halted and a staircase could be heard docking against the side of the craft.

With a grunt Clarke proceeded to leave his chair and walk to the exit, talking as he went- "With due respect to all of you, right now I just want to get away from you and this forsaken plane so I can finally see this supposed grand city the Luxans have." Glancing back at his ministers before walking out the door he added "I'm damned hungry myself."

[Primordial Luxa]

Mortimer Gilman arrives, warping in through mi-go teleportation technology. He exits the vehicle, and lights up a cigarette, on the assumption they don't have a smoking policy here.
"Sorry i'm late. What have I missed?"

He is standing in the middle of the technology expo.
The technology demonstration is in a wipe open area venue filled with booths and stages where a group of strange and otherworldly showmen attempt to entice people to there spectacle. It conjures up the image of an old time carnival or an atomic age world’s fair. The dark neon clouds above provide a mechanical and ethereal backdrop as sparks and strange colors silhouette the plaza. Each venue is unique and seems to be built of a completely different mind.
One of the stages toward the beginning of the expo is dominated by a large man of obsidian skin in a silver suit. The man is throwing a ball of multicolored light between several devices while displaying several machines made solely of glass and mirrors. Seemingly copying Tesla a banner above him says: “The Great Nyarlythoteps’ Wonders of Electricity”. Two separate booths seem to be in a heated yelling match, these groups are labeled Eden INC. and Fleshmolders and seems to attracted the least human Luxans in the area. The two tables are obviously rivals of some sort and constantly barrage each other with insults (and at one point a fireball).At the center of the plaza is a medium sized quick assembly building which seems to be one of the more well-funded of the group a sign next to it reads: “SystemCorp. Harbingers of Transmogrification”. As well as dozens more.

At the expo...
Asherah smiles and says " no I'm afraid I haven't, care to explain this "mechanosynthesis"?.

“It’s a very simple process. It starts in one of these machines” he says walking over to one of the devices. It’s a square piece of solid metal with a circular door on the front and covered in strange control apparatus. “A device like this is home to millions of tiny quantum sized nanites. These nanites have the ability to move atoms and molecules around in an object changing its shape, texture and density. Its essentially the ability to turn anything into anything else.

At the banquet...
Diana looks over the "bow" carefully. She quickly notes the multiple strings and the thankfully discreet gears and mechanisms of this... tool. She could not bring herself to call it a bow, although she knew there were people in Stelarus who would disagree and it was her job to represent them as well; refusing a gift that someone had put a lot of money into like this was certainly unthinkable. Nevertheless she was glad that this was a gift for her mother and not herself, she had no use for a bow that got easier and lighter to pull back the further you pulled, she wasn't the strongest person that she knew certainly but she was no weakling who needed assistance. She used her bow to improve herself, and this one could not do the job. As she was looking over the bow she kept her composure but part of her thought process worked it's way into her speach before she could stop it, luckily she only said;
"Did Lady Qwhen tell someone that she was physically ill?" she realized this slip almost immediately and attempted to look more confused at the sudden gift rather than exhasperated, a Luxan wouldn't understand.

Proffessor Niles shakes his head, obviously understanding her question. “PR said you would say that. The double bow system serves a different purpose that I should probably explain. You see this is no ordinary bow and there is nothing else like it on the face of the earth. The device sends a set of Panasonic vibrations up the length of these monofilament wires. The wires then bounce this vibration onto anything loaded into it. When a projectile is fired it inherits a variant of the vibration and anything hit suffers has its molecular density and bonds changed to a form similar to glass.” He pauses for a second to let that sink in. “This bow can shatter anything…it could punch a hole through the great wall of china, sunder an aircraft carrier or disintegrate a castle. “
“Its not very practical for hunting though. ”

Blade immediately calls out "Immortal Dreadlord,I ask to meet you" as he waits for a reply,he immediately looks for a refreshment table.

The edges of the rooms are dominated by large tables containing row upon row of a variety of strange substances. Bowls of mutied hued and sweet smelling powders and pills are placed along sid what seems like an absurd amount of liquid filled springiness which people scoop up by the handful. Other tables are covered in glasses smelling of exotic and strange chemicals, with the scents of vodka, sulpher, wine and jet fuel reaching your nose.

It is not long before the Dreadlord approaches. he is dressed in an artisanal crafted dark black leather coat with a fur lining, a white shirt, and black tie that compliments his form as he is easily seven feet tall and off a muscular build.
His skin is of an alabaster white and appears sickly transparent as a spiders web of bluish black veins criss cross its surface. This sickness is not shared by his form and demeanor as he seems to be full of profane almost fulsome life. His hands are strangely elongated with the skin on the back of his hands seems cracked like porcelain and his nails are beetle wings.

His eyes have overly large pupils and they lack any form of iris or sclera simply being soul pieces black orbs, while a red mask covers its edges. Those who look into them see something reflective of their own personal experience, they see their most perverse and sadistic dreams brought to life in their full unholy glory and they understand that this is a man who could make them come true.

His hair is sleekly combed back and is a black color that seems to be washed in a sort of non-cosmetic crimson compound giving it the image of being interlaced with red wine or blood. Atop his head there is a strange an unnatural crown of light and energy playing out as a set of red and black sparks dance in a cosmic pattern that tugs at a some primordial chord in those who look at it. It inspires a sense of familiarity and any who look upon it feel as though it belonged to someone they have always worshipped and adored or perhaps did in a different lifetime.
“Greeting. What is your reason for calling upon me?”

As the four Rofstinezian planes touched down on the tarmac President Leon Clarke addressed his staff- "Alright gentlemen" he said wearily taking off the glasses which had previously shielded his eyes before setting them down with the piece of legislation he had been reading.
The president's staffers looked up, many of whom tried to snap out of a half-awake state.

"Let me make this perfectly clear; we are here on a goodwill mission, and any of you who do anything to imply otherwise towards or insult anybody especially and including our Luxan hosts will be dismissed so hard that you'll be lucky to get a job digging ditches when we get back home- assuming the Luxans allow you to leave at all. Do I make myself clear?"
A disjointed chorus of "yes sir's" followed the president's declaration.

"Good." Clarke firmly concluded before reclining back in his leather chair, staring at the warmly decorated interior of the plane as though he was looking at it for the first time. His moment of tranquility was soon shattered though by the warm but soft voice of his Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Turning to face the speaker with some small measure of feigned exasperation the president spoke- "Don't worry Marius, I can't fire you without a vote, you know that."
"Yes I do" replied the minister,"but sir, we-"

Before he could manage more the president cut him off- "We're late aren't we?"

The reply came; "Exceptionally so."

"Excellent!" President Clarke exuberantly stated. "Let's just hope he haven't missed too much yet."
Just then the Minister of Defense, Sophie Bolivar walked into the cabin from the mess area.
Sandwich in hand, she proceeded to brief the president;

"The 42 guards are getting off the plane now to secure the LZ and begin the unloading of our fighting Lemon Meerkats, cultural desserts and gourmet entrees, prototype space module, and XMV8 rifles along with the other small arms and ammunition, which as you know will serve as gifts to our hosts and as part of our national military and scientific display."

"Smashing!" The now clearly elated president remarked, as though he had expected an accident by that point "Perhaps we'll even get to meet some of the Luxan royal family if all continues to go well. Just remember that we needn't forget to acquire some cultural and military assets as well, understood?"

Almost sarcastically, Bolivar snapped back- "Of course sir, does that mean we shouldn't have the firing range set up? The Luxans offered some of those genetic mutations up as targets."

In an attempt to hide his initial shock the president stopped himself from losing his composure and responded in a slow but deliberate manner- "Of course not! You have the firing range set up; using the mutants as targets is up to your discretion, just make sure that people of all nations are welcome to try our food and weaponry... Even Stisians."

The compliant response "Of course." came as the plane halted and a staircase could be heard docking against the side of the craft.

With a grunt Clarke proceeded to leave his chair and walk to the exit, talking as he went- "With due respect to all of you, right now I just want to get away from you and this forsaken plane so I can finally see this supposed grand city the Luxans have." Glancing back at his ministers before walking out the door he added "I'm damned hungry myself."

The landing zone is not far from the building itself and the landing is smooth and the passengers don’t even feel there craft touch the ground. After a brief while an exit stairway is brought up to your craft and a set of pink skinned slightly deformed attendants began unloading your bags. As you exit you finally hear this strange country and find the sound to be an aeonless quiet that gives the idea as if the whole land is holding its breath or has just taken its last. Looking out finally to the horizon you see the stars which seem closer than ever before and multihued rather than the dull white and black.

At the bottom of the stairs waits a bald pale women, she is dressed in a flowing black latex gown that seems to pierce her body rather than being tied around it. Her neck is slashed open and a bizarre vice keeps it open allowing you to see the movements of her vocal cords and quiver of her tongue and wears a smile that seems genuine and caring. She speaks with a diabolically young child’s voice that seems much too innocent for a creature so heavily mutilated.

“Greetings esteemed, my name is Elnora Arutidel please follow me”

She takes you and your company off the landing pad and to a shuttle leading to the forbidden city; the craft is a form of rail craft and takes the group swiftly to the cities entrance which is a detailed arch giving the unholy appearance of a gapping maw of a titanic beast of old and walking beneath it would send a shiver down the ambassadors spine. The things misshapen teeth seem to be of ivory carved and cooled icicles which had form of large monstrous canines each longer than a person’s body. At the gate stand a group of four guards who briefly check you guide credentials before letting you through eyeing you momentarily.

The walk to your living arrangements is short and on the way you passmany of the buildings you’ve seen from above as well. Your group also passes by several groups of Luxans who seem to be an exotic yet disturbing people. The building you are staying in is a five story complex much less grotesque than the rest of the buildings and crystal water runs over each window from carefully placed water falls. The entrance is a lobby that branches off into five gourmet restaurants each from a different section of the globe. At the back of the lobby stand a pair of Luxan Immortals.

At the end of the lobby is a trio of elevators and it is here that you greeter bids you goodbye handing each guest a key card and a Luxan identification card. The Ambassadors are split between a pair of rooms as are each nations bodyguards, however all bodyguard rooms are directly opposite the ambassadors room in case of emergency.

The roomsthemselves are exquisite and feature and enormous living room with a guest bath, entertainment center with a bar and piano. As well as a pair of master bedroom featuring a king bed, separate lounge, plush armchairs, flat-screen HD TV, dressing area and large walk-in closet. Your luggage has already been moved to the rooms.

This is compliment by His and Her master bathrooms feature two separate single basin sinks with two separate toilets and bidets, oversized walk-in showers, whirlpool tub. Each room has a dining room, and a separate kitchen with pantry as well as the guest bedroom features two queen beds, a walk-in closet, a walk-in shower, and double sinks including a 1,250-square-foot living room with a grand piano and twin entertainment centers, a dining room capped with a 22-karat gold chandelier and truly spacious bedrooms.
“Is their another way I can assist you mylords.”

[Stelarus]

At the Banquet...
All through his explanation Diana's expression slowly changes from one of suspicion and confusion to one of excitement. This was making more sense, it was meant for combat, for the battlefield no wonder it didn't seem right to shoot it to find ones peace and place in nature; the Luxans had decided to give them a war bow. A gift of weaponry from Luxa, a country in love with war, was one of the highest compliments. She had to hold back a laugh when he said that it would not be very practical for hunting.
" No, no it would probably be impossible to hunt with. Despite its appearance saying otherwise if what you say is true then this is a magnificent weapon. I will ensure that it reaches Stelarus safely, thank you very much Mr. Niles."

At the expo...
Asherah quickly says
"you say it's essentially the ability to turn anything into anything else, I'm assuming there are some limits as to what can be altered or shaped by this technology?"

[Adventus Secundus]

Ava, Hasta-Class Shuttle, Earth Entry

“Lux in tenebris lucet et tenebrae eam non comprehenderunt.” Tacitus knelt down, gently dipping the bared foot of the young woman in the basin of clear water. He looked up, and she smiled gently. Her innocence pierced his heart. Come now, she is a woman full grown. She has seen evil and strange things before.
He dried her foot with the towel around his waist, then repeated the process with the other.
“Amen amen dico vobis non est servus maior domino suo neque apostolus maior eo qui misit illum.”
The rite was as old as the Protectorate, and as strong as the hulls of the great ships that kept her safe. For a man to lead, he must be servant. Must wash the feet of his subordinates and value their lives above his.
The ship shuddered as it pierced the outer atmosphere, and he stood and glanced at the two younger members of the diplomatic team.

“Remember that we go forth as light into darkness. The madness of Ctulhu, the Right Hand of the Enemy, has consumed these people. They have left the path of Life a long time ago, and they delight in Death. We will see that. The Protector knows we are being sent forth as sheep among packs of wolves. We will meet death, in some form. He has foreseen it. But remember what lives between your temples and in your hearts. Be strong and of good courage.”

The ship shuddered again, and he was nearly thrown to the ground. He smiled wryly. “Also. Strap in.”

“Noted.” Paulus, the other member of the diplomatic team, quipped as he strapped the harness in place on his flight couch. He glanced at the data readouts. “ETA thirty minutes until destination.”

The ship rattled through initial entry, then the turbulence quieted. Auburna looked over at the bridge screen and smiled gently. “Re-entry complete.” She ran a hand through her hair. “Approaching The Burning City.”

“Remember your instructions.” Tacitus said, his voice cutting across their tension like a curled lash. “We are to split. I will monitor the pageant, and learn what I can, and demonstrate such of our arms as the Protector has thought good for us to bring.” He looked over at the weapons locker/arming room. “Paulus will attend the technology exposition, and will support Auburna at the banquet. Don’t forget your purpose. We are to plumb the heart of this land and see what lies there.”

The City was a dazzlingly dreadful sight. The shuttle landed with a gentle bump under Tacitus’s skilled piloting. He stood and magnetically strapped the impervaluminum longsword to the back of his armored torso. It was the birthright of his Order, and a potent weapon. He looked back at the two Peacemakers in their soft gray robes and made the sign of the cross. “Pax vobiscum. Vis Domini vobiscum.”
“Amen.”

The hatch opened and they stepped out.

The Banquet

Auburna picked her way through the debauched chaos of the antechamber, a lone figure in serene gray in the midst of the cacophony, her hands crossed demurely at her waist. She was not an Adept, but she could feel the chill as Something manifested near her. Something powerful, and old.

She crossed herself. What coud that be? God have mercy.

Duellist Pageant

A lone figure weaved his way, confidently, though the colorful and bizarre denizens of the city, the sword across his back barely earning a second glance, his face shrouded in the hood of his robe. A sense of...stillness...followed him. A calm like a grove of trees in the winter. And that did earn him glances as he approached the arena.

Technology Expo

Paulus made his way though the different aisles, looking for something that would draw his attention. Something that could be of use to the Protectorate...

[Adia Labs]

Aegin smiles at the man, his eyes curious but sadistic. "How wonderful. Yes, I have noticed much here that catches my curiosity. Luxans truly are the definition of beauty, are they not? The perfect beings. Tell me... How did you all become of this?"

The man smiles at the question signalling that he had heard it many times before. "No great shift of technology is completely without a shift of conceptual thought. The emergence of the laws of arcano-tech gave us a new view about everything. The physical proof of what we came from shattered all notions of creationism, the reveal of alien life destroyed our feelings of uniqueness, and the insight into other dimensions showed us that all places, times and spaces are meaningless." He pauses briefly feeling his pulse with a pair of fingers.
"Tell me friend, whats your profession?"

Aegin leaned back, smiling. This man certain held onto his notions of Arcano tech. Amazing as it was, the crafting of life itself stood in its complexity. These people had everything, blessed and cursed with their mutations, becoming walking pieces of art. He enjoyed the experience he was having greatly, but he was disappointed by the man's answer. "And yet here we stand, meaningless? No, I will not argue with you upon this. Arcano tech can show you everything, can it not? I wonder why it would reveal something so... Pedestrian." Straightening up with a sigh, he smiled, and adjusted his bracelet. Looking back to the man, he smiled once again, regaining his polite look. "I'm a biological engineer, and a politician. I create works of scientific art through my creatures, and through our sciences. Your Arcano Tech makes Adian equipment look foolish, so it is wonderful to see it in working condition." Aegin smiled at the displays for a moment, before looking back again.

"I was cast out from my original birthplace due to my creations. 'Abominations' they called them, yet here I stand among the very kind of creatures I had pieced together. Each unique, but entirely uniform. I wonder as to your existence, how you stand it. So very lonely it must be for the Luxan, to live such a life willingly. The Arcano Tech makes it much to easy to fall into the depravity of Luxa." Aegin looks back at the man, eyes cold and empty. "Monstrosities of beauty. That's what I see here. The perfect world, in an imperfect system. But I shall not question it. I shall merely continue my sciences, and continue the true knowledge of all that exists beyond the real." Slumping in the chair, he goes silent for a long moment, before sitting up again, blinking.

"I apologize, that happens occasionally. My name is Aegin Ventoria. It's a pleasure to meet you."

[Stis]

The girl sits up from laying on the floor in one of the hotel suites, blinking. That process had been much faster than usual, most likely due to the magical energy in the air from all the Arcano Tech. Rubbing her head, she groaned. Her skin had returned to its natural grey, her veins not showing through. It had been a good three days since her last rebirth, so it made sense why her blood was flowing so freely. Groggily looking around, she notices fruit on the table. Grabbing an apple, she peels off the sticker and takes a bite before hearing a shift behind her. Smiling, she turns slowly.

"Sup, loverboy?" She asked, a grin on her face. It had been a long while since she'd seen the man standing in front of her now.

[Shaoten]

The girl sits up from laying on the floor in one of the hotel suites, blinking. That process had been much faster than usual, most likely due to the magical energy in the air from all the Arcano Tech. Rubbing her head, she groaned. Her skin had returned to its natural grey, her veins not showing through. It had been a good three days since her last rebirth, so it made sense why her blood was flowing so freely. Groggily looking around, she notices fruit on the table. Grabbing an apple, she peels off the sticker and takes a bite before hearing a shift behind her. Smiling, she turns slowly.

"Sup, loverboy?" She asked, a grin on her face. It had been a long while since she'd seen the man standing in front of her now.

Alexander growled, his hand on his knife. "Of all places, of all times, you show up now. Typical." He stood his ground, staring coldly at her. "I know why you're here. Did you think you could fool anyone? Especially me?" He laughed, and pulled out his knife. "The Luxans can kill me, this is for Stis. The days of the empress are behind us, and you should be too."

[Stis]

The girl sits up from laying on the floor in one of the hotel suites, blinking. That process had been much faster than usual, most likely due to the magical energy in the air from all the Arcano Tech. Rubbing her head, she groaned. Her skin had returned to its natural grey, her veins not showing through. It had been a good three days since her last rebirth, so it made sense why her blood was flowing so freely. Groggily looking around, she notices fruit on the table. Grabbing an apple, she peels off the sticker and takes a bite before hearing a shift behind her. Smiling, she turns slowly.

"Sup, loverboy?" She asked, a grin on her face. It had been a long while since she'd seen the man standing in front of her now.

Alexander growled, his hand on his knife. "Of all places, of all times, you show up now. Typical." He stood his ground, staring coldly at her. "I know why you're here. Did you think you could fool anyone? Especially me?" He laughed, and pulled out his knife. "The Luxans can kill me, this is for Stis. The days of the empress are behind us, and you should be too."

"Put away your toothpick, I'm not here for the diamond. I already talked to the Dreadlord. Either he knows about it and is playing dumb or he doesn't. Either way, it's none of his concern. His Arcano Tech alone has that kind of power, doesn't it?" Taking another bite, she smiles as she chews. It had been a long time since she'd actually eaten, especially anything this fresh. But maybe she'd have a different meal coming up, if Harrison kept being a punk. "Look at it this way, I could be kicking Jax's ass in the arena right now, but I'm not. I could be breaking Aegin's mind, but I'm not. And if I wanted you dead, you'd already be dead. I'm here for the food, and I don't mean the people. It's a collaboration of nations, Alexander, learn to enjoy things. You and your posse can be here on politics if you want, but I made my plea. I'm spending the rest of my time here enjoying it. You should do the same. Talk to that crush of yours, figure out what's up with her, or hell, just get wasted. You seem to have forgotten the Silk way entirely."

[Shaoten]

Alexander growled, his hand on his knife. "Of all places, of all times, you show up now. Typical." He stood his ground, staring coldly at her. "I know why you're here. Did you think you could fool anyone? Especially me?" He laughed, and pulled out his knife. "The Luxans can kill me, this is for Stis. The days of the empress are behind us, and you should be too."

"Put away your toothpick, I'm not here for the diamond. I already talked to the Dreadlord. Either he knows about it and is playing dumb or he doesn't. Either way, it's none of his concern. His Arcano Tech alone has that kind of power, doesn't it?" Taking another bite, she smiles as she chews. It had been a long time since she'd actually eaten, especially anything this fresh. But maybe she'd have a different meal coming up, if Harrison kept being a punk. "Look at it this way, I could be kicking Jax's ass in the arena right now, but I'm not. I could be breaking Aegin's mind, but I'm not. And if I wanted you dead, you'd already be dead. I'm here for the food, and I don't mean the people. It's a collaboration of nations, Alexander, learn to enjoy things. You and your posse can be here on politics if you want, but I made my plea. I'm spending the rest of my time here enjoying it. You should do the same. Talk to that crush of yours, figure out what's up with her, or hell, just get wasted. You seem to have forgotten the Silk way entirely."

Harrison put a way his knife and sighed. "I'm not a Stian, child. I don't follow your houses or your houses. I'm here to follow through on a promise. Shoaten needs a restoration of power, one that's not in an empress' hands. Madeline did the best she could, but no one can handle Stis like that. Tallan and the Cult, both of them need to fall. And I know you don't pick sides, but you may need to one day." Harrison picks up his room key, walking to the door. "I'll get Aegin to make a copy of the key so you can get some rest. But that's as far as my hospitality goes." With that, he leaves.

[Ninjaron Empire]

Blade immediately calls out "Immortal Dreadlord,I ask to meet you" as he waits for a reply,he immediately looks for a refreshment table.

The edges of the rooms are dominated by large tables containing row upon row of a variety of strange substances. Bowls of mutied hued and sweet smelling powders and pills are placed along sid what seems like an absurd amount of liquid filled springiness which people scoop up by the handful. Other tables are covered in glasses smelling of exotic and strange chemicals, with the scents of vodka, sulpher, wine and jet fuel reaching your nose.

It is not long before the Dreadlord approaches. he is dressed in an artisanal crafted dark black leather coat with a fur lining, a white shirt, and black tie that compliments his form as he is easily seven feet tall and off a muscular build.
His skin is of an alabaster white and appears sickly transparent as a spiders web of bluish black veins criss cross its surface. This sickness is not shared by his form and demeanor as he seems to be full of profane almost fulsome life. His hands are strangely elongated with the skin on the back of his hands seems cracked like porcelain and his nails are beetle wings.

His eyes have overly large pupils and they lack any form of iris or sclera simply being soul pieces black orbs, while a red mask covers its edges. Those who look into them see something reflective of their own personal experience, they see their most perverse and sadistic dreams brought to life in their full unholy glory and they understand that this is a man who could make them come true.

His hair is sleekly combed back and is a black color that seems to be washed in a sort of non-cosmetic crimson compound giving it the image of being interlaced with red wine or blood. Atop his head there is a strange an unnatural crown of light and energy playing out as a set of red and black sparks dance in a cosmic pattern that tugs at a some primordial chord in those who look at it. It inspires a sense of familiarity and any who look upon it feel as though it belonged to someone they have always worshipped and adored or perhaps did in a different lifetime.
“Greeting. What is your reason for calling upon me?”

"I have been in rule of Ninjaron for a while now,and would like to meet you,as I have heard about you. It is nice to finally make your aquantince "
He then grabs a bottle of red wine,which he pours a glass of it,which he drinks,noting the pecuiliar taste.
He extends his arm to the Dreadlord in a friendly manner

[Stelarus]

Leaving the Great Horned Keep...
Diana figures that the carns are smart enough to know where the Stelaran rooms are located and asks them to leave it there. She then leaves the feast and takes a walk through the burning city. She wanted to witness the duels of the foreign representatives, but she takes the longest route possible to the Black Gate Arena hoping to explore as much of the city as she can.

[Stis]

Leaving the Great Horned Keep...
Diana figures that the carns are smart enough to know where the Stelaran rooms are located and asks them to leave it there. She then leaves the feast and takes a walk through the burning city. She wanted to witness the duels of the foreign representatives, but she takes the longest route possible to the Black Gate Arena hoping to explore as much of the city as she can.

Alexander silently falls into step next to her, smiling. He nods at the bow, and looks to her. "You're an archer, then?" He smiles and looks ahead.