AndrewRogue: ~Nellix... do you think this can work?~ (*cries*)

SirAlexTheFirst: ~Trying to convince Leonard to call off the raid because people will die? Of course not. Everyone knew that going in.~

AndrewRogue: ~Do you think the raid can succeed though? And more importantly, Leonard is one of the ten sounding pillars, should we even let them?~

SirAlexTheFirst: Make a Will save.

AndrewRogue: OH GOD

AndrewRogue: -7

SirAlexTheFirst: ~Good point. You might not want to talk to me here. Make your own choices, though.~

SirAlexTheFirst: All trace of humor or happiness is gone from Leonard's countenance. "Who are you speaking with?"

AndrewRogue: *she remains standing as she holds the sheathed blade beside her* "What do you mean?"

AndrewRogue: (And for reference, she is in contact with Hunter as well.)

SirAlexTheFirst: "Very well, then. You're speaking with Nellix. Why?"

AndrewRogue: "I'd appreciate you telling me how you can tell all this."

SirAlexTheFirst: "Magical wards that detect telepathy and any mention of certain terms in it.

AndrewRogue: "And I... I assume one of those terms is Nellix?"

SirAlexTheFirst: "No, actually. Ten Sounding Pillars. I checked what you said before then."

SirAlexTheFirst: "Or rather, what you thought."

SirAlexTheFirst: Leonard folds his hands and closes his eyes, silent for a moment before speaking softly. "You make this very difficult on an old man, Arianna. I really ought to have you killed again for that. But it wouldn't do any good now, I suppose, would it?"

AndrewRogue: "For what exactly?" *her body is rigid, she's very well expecting him to try it*

SirAlexTheFirst: "Speaking with Nellix, blatantly allied with him, asking him for advice even..." Leonard shakes his head. "Did you not hear what I said the last time you were here? Or think I was lying?"

AndrewRogue: "I'm not sure what I think right now Leonard. All I know is you had me killed once, which doesn't exactly give a lot of reason for me to trust you."

SirAlexTheFirst: "Doesn't it?" He looks at you curiously. "You can trust that I have no tolerance for threats or enemies, and I prefer to be very, very clear on who is one such and who is not."

SirAlexTheFirst: You might want to C&P any telepathy you're doing in here

AndrewRogue: "Too clear. Suffice to say I don't think killing me was a particular good choice. And right now, I'm very paranoid." *her eyes actually do seem to twtch aside a second, but she ignores whatever it is* "What is it exactly that you want Verity for?"

AndrewRogue: (Ack sorry. One sec.)

AndrewRogue wants to directly connect.

SirAlexTheFirst is now directly connected.

AndrewRogue: Adm H Sopko: ~Should I ask if you can see a doctor?~

AndrewRogue: ~I'm fine... really. I'll... explain later.~

AndrewRogue: ~Hunter, would you give me your sword please?~

Adm H Sopko: ~Ah... sure.~

Adm H Sopko: ~What's the matter, Aria?~

AndrewRogue: ~I don't know what he wants. But he had me killed once before and he's supposed to be one of the Ten Sounding Pillars. I don't trust him.~

Adm H Sopko: ~Fair enough... keep me posted, I'll be ready~

Adm H Sopko: ~Is... everything going alright?~

AndrewRogue: ~You should probably not move very far.~

Adm H Sopko: ~What is it, Aria? What's going on?~

AndrewRogue: ~We're having a disagreement. He's got wards set up so I need to not do this much. I'll say if something important happens~

AndrewRogue: (Sorry 'bout that.)

SirAlexTheFirst: "To make Madame Aurelia happy, young lady, and to glean whatever insight Verity can offer us on what Whittyre wants with him. I also prefer to not keep men in captivity when it is not necessary; in that sense you could say this is simply the right thing to do."

AndrewRogue: "And I assume the rest of this is all about stopping Whittyre? You'll excuse me about being a little bitter, but I'm not exactly associating you with the right thing to do right now. Killing people on suspicions is not something I approve of."

SirAlexTheFirst: "Neither do I.... neither do I...." Leonard shakes his head again. "But it is necessary. Inaction can lead to much more danger, and when it comes to it - better myself than the enemy. My predecessor learned this lesson the hard way. That's a story for another time, though - for now, I need to decide what to do with you."

AndrewRogue: "Why do you distrust Nellix anyway?"

AndrewRogue: (Adm H Sopko: ~Have things improved?~)

SirAlexTheFirst: "I believe I explained that to you in our earlier visit. Do you require a review as young master Sopko did?"

SirAlexTheFirst: Awk lag

AndrewRogue: "I'd like to try and understand this. He doesn't seem to be much for bothering right now. He did bring Aurelia back, and he doesn't seem to much care what any of you are doing."

AndrewRogue: (AndrewRogue: ~Not really. Just wait and if I say anything that's not a direct response to you... then you're going to be making a decision between the company and me. I recommed its quick.~)

SirAlexTheFirst: "Can you be sure, though? Can you absolutely guarantee me of anything about that... creature?" Leonard seems agitated now. "Noone can be sure of what he wants or what he's planning, save through his actions. He did bring Aurelia back, yes... just before the raid by Whittyre that captured Verity alive, and almost snatched her, too!"

AndrewRogue: "And if I'm not mistaken, they got captured when they returned to their homes. Nellix also saved all of us in the basement in the Church of Christ, Verity and Aurelia included, after Arryx broke loose."

AndrewRogue: *Aria... is amazingly cool at this moment*

SirAlexTheFirst: Leonard blinks, taken aback momentarily. "Ah... you mean that? I am referring to later, when Aurelia died, but Nellix brought her back immediately before Whittyre's raid. Did you not know about this?"

AndrewRogue: "Yes. Which is probably a much better alternative to her staying dead."

SirAlexTheFirst: "Handing her over to Whittyre? I must seriously question that."

AndrewRogue: "I notice she escaped. Wouldn't it have been easier to bring her back in their custody?"

SirAlexTheFirst: "It would be. But look - Nellix doesn't operate that way. He works through coincidence, never quite doing anything outright. There is no hard evidence linking him to being an ally of Whittyre, merely a large number of coincidences. As befits him."

AndrewRogue: "And where there a lot of coincidences leading you to believe I was trying to be your enemy?"

SirAlexTheFirst: "No. You were outright talking to him."

AndrewRogue: (Would it be unplausible for Aria to remember that they dodged the Hummer question earlier and that she already has her suspicions about that?)

SirAlexTheFirst: "If you mean the first event, may I remind you that I had nothing to do with that? And master Sopko - the elder - has already admitted it was an error in judgement, and apologized. It is not the same situation."

SirAlexTheFirst: (Not particularly implausible.)

AndrewRogue: "Would it be out of the question to ask you who the other members of the Ten Pillars are?"

SirAlexTheFirst: "....while you stand here, unwilling to qualify yourself as a friend or enemy of us, not answering my questions, speaking to Nellix? I think not, young lady. Besides, it is not my place to reveal the others even to those I trust."

AndrewRogue: "Fair enough. I doubted you would. How about the Hummers then? And Mister Scarlett?"

AndrewRogue: (Adm H Sopko:::His anxiety eventually gets the better of him:: ~Please, Aria... what did you mean by that? Whats going on?~)

SirAlexTheFirst: "What of them?"

AndrewRogue: "What does Yaravon know about them."

AndrewRogue: *?

SirAlexTheFirst: "......."

AndrewRogue: (AndrewRogue: ~To quote him- 'I should have you killed again.' We're not there yet though.~

AndrewRogue: ~He's not sure what to do with me yet, so stay calm.~)

SirAlexTheFirst: "Arianna, this is most unreasonable. The question at the moment is whether I should allow you to leave this room, much less be involved with our operations or disclose any information to you."

AndrewRogue: *she swallows tightly* "We were involved with them too. And you keep dodging that question."

SirAlexTheFirst: "I'm not even sure what you're speaking about, now - though I can assure you that this interrogation is not helping your cause. Now, please, calm down. Elaborate further on why you think Nellix -and you- ought to be trusted."

AndrewRogue: *Aria's breathing is coming a little quicker* "Its the simple matter of fact I have as much interest in keeping Verity alive as you do."

AndrewRogue: "I hate the man beyond... beyond everything, but he deserves a second chance that NELLIX gave him."

SirAlexTheFirst: "And why, pray tell, should anyone trust anything that the trickster god says, does, or gives to anyone?"

AndrewRogue: (Would Aria's upbrining make her think Nellix is a trickster god?)

SirAlexTheFirst: (Not particularly.)

AndrewRogue: "And where exactly are you pulling this trickster god thing from?"

SirAlexTheFirst: "Merely an expression. Please answer the question."

AndrewRogue: "Why shouldn't someone? He saved us in the basement of the Church of Christ. He's helped Aurelia. He's helped all of us in scenarios where it seems just as productive to have let us die."

SirAlexTheFirst: "He's handed Verity an artifact which nobody knows the true nature or purpose of, resurrected Aurelia conveniently in time to be attacked by Whittyre, and brought you back when Will killed you thinking you were opposed to us. It seems, now, that he might actually have been right in thinking so. What are your own 'Pillars', Arianna? Just what are your goals in all of this? Where are you standing?"

SirAlexTheFirst: Leonard looks very, very weary.

AndrewRogue: "From what we can tell they have nothing to do with you."

AndrewRogue: "From what we've seen, they appear to be something along the lines of the Hummers, Marion, Verity, this mess in Whittyre and whatever the hell is resulting from the Hummers."

SirAlexTheFirst: "Yet this whole mess, as you put it, seems tied to Nellix. Surely he wouldn't put you in opposition to himself."

AndrewRogue: "I don't think so."

AndrewRogue: "But then again, I don't think he has anything to do with Whittyre."

SirAlexTheFirst: *sigh* "We are then at an impasse. I have told you how they are linked, and you refuse to believe it. Back to the main question - what should I do with you?"

AndrewRogue: "That's a very good question."

AndrewRogue: "I wonder if you'd be obliged to my answer, which is to let me out of here."

AndrewRogue: "Because I'm not rolling over and dying this time."

SirAlexTheFirst: "To do what, though? Let Nellix and, through him, Whittyre, learn everything about our impending operation and thwart it?"

AndrewRogue: "I don't want to be an enemy to Yaravon. We have few enough people we can trust as is. I don't suppose you'd take much to the idea that I promise I won't say anything?" *she sighs* "Maybe give me an escort and see if we can at least talk Verity out of their hands?"

SirAlexTheFirst: "........... talk..... Verity.... out of their hands?"

AndrewRogue: "Don't you read the news? I'm supposed to be the crazy leader of the Gabrilite investigation squad and daughter to none other than General Tarin."

AndrewRogue: "Its not much, but its some weight."

AndrewRogue: "Verity was supposed to be in our possession, and they've also taken one our friends under custody too."

SirAlexTheFirst: "And they will not do the same thing to you because...." He leaves the statement open.

AndrewRogue: "I don't know why they took him. But I can't believe that they'd simply arrest me for trying to negotiate. But I do suppose the fact that everyone wants us dead right now. I'd be out of your hair at least."

AndrewRogue: *right now puts a crimp in that

SirAlexTheFirst: "Or, perhaps, they will welcome you with outstretched arms because you are in league with them and Nellix, and feed you false information, promising to turn Verity over tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow."

AndrewRogue: "And if I don't get him, what stops you from simply going through with this... this suicide raid?"

SirAlexTheFirst: "You will have talked to them and they will know about it."

AndrewRogue: "They will know that I was killed by someone in a trade organazation or someone else because of these investigations. And that I was incapacitated while my charge was abducted by their... their exo-suit things."

SirAlexTheFirst: Give me a Will save.

AndrewRogue: 10

SirAlexTheFirst: You feel a sudden dull ache, throbbing but strong, in your head. Leonard's voice echoes. ~They will know everything you do, young lady. Whittyre will not treat you nicel-...................~

SirAlexTheFirst: The headache goes away, and Leonard looks surprised.

AndrewRogue: *her grip on the weapon tightens instantly* "What was that?"

SirAlexTheFirst: He recovers, after a moment. "It seems I have been gravely mistaken, madame."

AndrewRogue: "What are you talking about?" *her eyes are narrowed and she is very ready to draw the weapon*

SirAlexTheFirst: Leonard starts filling out paperwork again. "I apologize. Do what you wish. Ask master Sopko and madame Aurelia if they need any further assistance."

AndrewRogue: "What are you talking about?"

SirAlexTheFirst: "Whittyre will not believe a thing you say. Therefore, you are no danger."