The BranRiech wrote:"Might not be able to communicate with them, but I can protect those that want to try." He offered, stepping his way around the two Klingons, paying them no mind as he approached the married couple.
Bran looked vaguely familiar, but she couldn't place him. She started to introduce herself, but was interrupted by Opa's request for orders.
Highfort wrote:"Where can I. Be of most. Use. Sister Bela?" he intoned. Warmth projected from his arm as his plasma rifle activated, a soft glow indicating it was ready to fire at a moment's notice.
Amanda studied the robot again, taking a step backwards as heat began to roll off its peace-maker. It was tall, and heavily armed. No, those weren't the most important parts. Its shield was. "Escort. If the situation goes bad, you can provide cover for us as we get back inside. Keep your shield between us and the enemy. But wait for our orders to open fire."
The sense of purpose filled the robot with a strange feeling, though he shrugged it off and his processor decided that he was merely processing his new orders. Opa indicated he’d heard with a tip of his shield, replying, “I will hold. My fire until I. Am given orders by. You, Sister.”
Amanda accepted the choices the other Residents made, even though she didn't recognize most of them. Too many of them were speaking at once for her to sort them out anyway. If Baron Primordial did come, he'd better talk sense.
It was then that Baron Primordial ventured into the group, the gruff man chewing on a reddish breath mint as he strode into the lobby. He looked over at Cherry and Anais with an expression of both happiness and relief. Primordial was a brave soul but he liked having someone else to walk into danger with as much as any other person and the prospect of having these capable people alongside him was even more reassuring.
Trying to make himself more presentable, he grabbed up his cane and pressed it to his forehead for a moment, drinking in the sweet spiritual excretions which in order to pull some years of his face and granting him a more youthful vistage.
“Great to see you again so soon.” Primordial said to Anais and Cherry with a friendly jesting tone. The baron turned his attention to the group at large, noting Amanda, Septimus and others that were willing to join to meet their guests outside.
“Do you guys think we should take any particularly special approach to dealing with these folks? From what I know ogres typically aren't the most patient or diplomatic race and they tend to have traces of...well not to sound rude but...savagery, in their demeanor.”
“Likewise, baron,” Anais bowed her head slightly in greeting, her attention divided as the group was slowly forming to what looked to be a hasty delegation; she did not answer right away, instead gesturing for them to turn their attention to the group at large. A call for defenders to their weapons and the shout from outside would thin in patience if not responded to soon; the ritualist sincerely hoped they would be set to task rather than more debate among them.
“Ogres that can talk. In a sentence. That’s scary,” Cherry commented from Anais’ left, the riutalist could only nod in agreement to that assessment.
Highfort wrote:"What's the situation, Amanda?" Septimus saw her speaking to the crowd in the lobby and quickly made himself known, shoving past the crowd and then squeezing next to a giant robot - a new Resident, perhaps? No matter, there was a problem that needed to be dealt with first before pleasantries could be exchanged.
Amanda was relieved to hear Septimus' voice: another adult had shown up. But as he pressed in, Amanda got a better look at his face and then his clothing, and became concerned and then worried. Something was up beyond the confused mess the Ascalon trip had become, but she was out of the loop. He seemed sober, despite what he smelled like, and since she seemed to lack choices...
"There's a group of creatures nearby, and we think--"
Sandy abruptly turned from the window, catching Amanda's attention and stopping her sentence cold. He spoke rapidly, trying to spit out a warning while it still mattered. "Amanda! Ogres, fifty or more. Three of them are heading for--"
Cerillium wrote:"Ruinscrashers!" the largest bellowed. "Come out, if you dare. The Har'Keth Tribe has business with you."
Amanda turned back to Septimus, exasperated by the need to respond to a complex, fast-moving set of events. "...and that would be the situation, Mr. Itum. We're on."
She looked to Primordial though spoke up to the rest of the group assembled, “Perhaps we take an unassuming approach. We know of ogres being nothing but brutes,” she gestured outside, “that one sounded a bit different, I say. We play it cautious.”
“And if they stomp?” Cherry huffed, crossing her arms, clearly not convinced this ‘talk’ was going to beneficial.
“Then we stand our ground,” Anais declared, having caught Amanda’s previous comment to Opa and agreeing to it. Force wasn’t what she wanted, but neither was being flattened by their feet.
“I see,” Septimus scratched his head, eyes slightly widened from the bellowing of the beasts and bits of disheveled hair poking out from his usually well-kept spikes. A slight belch left him and he turned away to disperse the breath, reeking of whiskey, before continuing, “Big problems, and lots of them.”
Opa quickly identified the disheveled newcomer as Brother Septimus Itum, the blacklisted former Confederation Board Member. Electing to say nothing for the moment, but realizing that defending this area was now his primary objective until Septimus could be brought to a safer one, the robot resolved to stay near the Representative for the duration of this escapade.
"Hmm, perhaps they've come for a good reason?" Rodney peered around Amanda in order to stare out the front door glass. He lapsed back into contemplative silence soon after.
Amanda gave him a deadpan stare: yeah, they'd better have a good reason. "I'd like to think so. You're on too. It's time to talk; we're supposed to be good at that." Amanda looked over the various volunteers, and then to Septimus. "Pardon me, Mr. Itum, I think we should act with some speed." She turned to Anais and Cherry: "You and you, please come with--"
Sandy cut her off again, much calmer. "Dear, this is Anais and Cherry, of Dwayna’s Vigilant, the guild on the eighth floor I mentioned. We were planning when the alarm came in. Anais, Cherry? This is my wife, Amanda."
The ritualist gazed upon Amanda and bowed her head, with only a slight murmur from Cherry to acknowledge Sandy’s wife. To anyone else, it was a polite greeting. To Anais, it meant no world of good in the mesmer’s books. Necessity called for focus on the present and Anais went straight to topic, “My guild are set to join us outside. I believe Alexia has spoken to those…”
She pointed at the Klingons who had only listened on rather than input anything of note, so far. She continued, “And they are willing to accompany us as well.
New Aksarben wrote:"Maghrl with with diplomatic team" the squib jedi told the rest firmly, stepping behind the man wearing epaulets since he seemed to be taking the lead.
Sandy agreed with Maghrl, nodding as he did so. "Yes, take Maghrl, he's a Jedi." Amanda's gaze darted to Sandy, completely stunned. "A... Jedi??"
Klingons, and now Jedi? She had no idea what to think. Sandy explained for the others’ benefit, tossing his head uncertainly as he tried to figure out what to say. "He's a ... holy warrior. Amanda and I ... knew of his religion, but didn't expect to ever meet one. I was talking to him at the feast. He should be a good person to take. He's a healer as well."
The BranRiech wrote:"You don't know me."
His shoulders rolled back in a shrug, the red-star pins holding his epaulets on rose with them, as he turned back to look out the window. Business with them? Had the building pissed off any Ogres recently? Bran let out another sigh, and quickly popped the magazine from the gun, checking to make sure it was loaded.
"So, who goes out there?" He asked.
“May I suggest,” Septimus interjected, “That we establish a clear chain-of-command. As I am not in the best of shape right now and Mrs. Bela appears to have awareness of the situation, I suggest that she take over the current mission with us serving as her fellows. Would that suffice?”
Primordial nodded in agreement. “Sound like a very good idea to me. Should we explain that we are new and try to act friendly and accommodating unless they get violent?”
Anais shook her head, not liking the idea of divulging more than was necessary. Omitting facts wasn’t lying, per se, just a matter of not exposing themselves if they could help it. “Best we don’t explain ourselves unless asked for it. We present ourselves, and ask what has befallen to prompt their presence. By saying we’re new, we open ourselves to accusation; best we play their words against them.”
She turned her attention to the Klingons and her guildmates. Alexia quickly gave their odd names and she offered a small smile as she called them, “Mezran and Tavana, please join with Reyna and Erick and everyone else. If you could, please pair yourselves and stand by the doorway.”
Mezran understood and nodded. Tavana on the other hand, had other comments to offer Bran and sneered at him with a feral grin, “It has bark, but does it have teeth. Care to find out?”
“yImev!” Mezran barked at her. Tavana huffed, ignoring Mezran and left to toying Bran with a smirk as she crossed her arms and refocused her attention toward Anais who continued.
“Traxt, Alexia and Cherry, you’re behind them.” She looked at the group, “Alexia is a healer, Traxt and Cherry are spellcasters, they’ll provide support from afar, it is best they stay clear of the ogres at all possible. My other friends will provide defense as needed but away from the talks. We don’t want to provoke them; but I see no reason not to show strength.”
“I’m going with you!” The mesmer protested with a hiss.
“No,” the ritualist shook her head, “Stand with Alexia and Traxt.” Anais offered a tender smile, “I’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”
The mesmer huffed and pushed past her and Primordial to stand by her other guildmates. Another issue for another time, Anais noted to herself. “We will be small in number to talk to them, but it be best if you were all ready should things go awry. Please be by the door, but do not come out unless warranted. I think it’ll be clear when we need the help.”
“What is my. Position in the. Formation. Sister?” Opa unrolled his back armor to allow a gaunt, mechanical hand to emerge and tap on Anais shoulder, “Shall I cover. The back of. The formation? My capabilities are. Long-ranged as. Well as in. Close combat.”
Anais thought about it for a moment, the odd construct was the first true mechanical being she had ever laid eyes upon. She didn’t know which but from the look of his metal plating, Opa looked sturdy. Perhaps not the back team if his tough exterior was anything to go by. She looked at the Klingons and her team, a hulking figure like Opa would benefit them, “If you could, please join Erick’s team. I’m sure they could use an extra hand if we are attacked.”
Opa offered a slight tip of his shield before retreating from the diplomatic group to join Brother Mezran and Sister Tavana with the other defenders staying in the Building. His processor questioned this move - Septimus was, after all, going out to meet the imminent threat. However, the combat android concluded that, given Septimus’ apparent status in this tenement, the disgraced Brother knew what he was doing. No sense in provoking conflict now.
“Would this be fine with everyone?’ Anais asked the group; time wasn’t on their side and the ogres were likely not going to wait for long.
The Luxan Baron moved to stand next to Septimus and then turned to look around the room one final time trying to take in the variety of names and roles that were being given to people he had only just met. The company of someone like Septimus was enjoyable because at least he was a person that he felt he knew reasonably well. Primordial then nodded to Anais “Sounds fine with me. Lets try not to leave our guests waiting too long.”
“Gentlemen, ladies, shall we?” Septimus gestured at the imposing giants on the front lawn of the Building, rubbing his tired eyes as he added, “Hopefully, Demens hasn’t sent us more than we can chew.”
Anais nodded in silence, taking a deep breath as she gripped her staff tightly in one hand and walked out with Septimus, Amanda and Primordial.