Gigan Mobilization

[bravenewmods]

After weeks of waiting uneasily in the aftermath of the chaotic infiltration of Gigas to right a terrible wrong, the Council finally decided that it’s time to make a move. It's wasn't a decision that they made lightly, but the events in the distant city has proven a point that they had all seen coming:

The time where they could stay in the safety of Union's walls was no more, not when the Gods themselves were far from the infallible beings that they had believed for generations. It was time for Humans to once again take their stand. Joined by their allies from Caldera, Sanctuary, and the other surrounding cities, the people of Union Alliance gathered their supplies and set out west-- toward Gigas. The distant city had not remained silent either, rumors spreading of mobilization, and the fires of war loom as large as the four imprisoned titans over all the land.

The Gods had saved humanity countless times before. It was time that humanity returned the favor.

[OOC: Event Sign Ups are now open! We encourage all players to participate in this pivotal event. You can pick your teams of five yourselves, or you can request to be placed in a randomized pool that will be determined at the end of the sign up period, on 7/15.

An OOC post will be made explaining the next stage in more detail. Please use this post as a catch-all for your IC needs.]

Comments

[soulofmagus]

Hmm. And the lower you are in terms of influence and power, then wider that gap in knowledge available to you, yes?

[Both Waver and Harry had vaguely indicated their position in Sanctuary's society when discussing magic with her in the past; Raine has not elaborated, but Sophia is left wondering.]

..That sounds to me a sure way to lose more than you gain in the long term. But I suppose nobility don't care beyond their own needs. [there's a disgruntled noise from Ouka, who shuffles closer to Sophia.] Well, the Mage Council came and went evry quickly from Union. Perhaps we can change that, there..

[We? well, maybe it's a little arrogant of her to say that, given her newness to her powers even 6 or 7 so months along. But sharing knowledge had worked well so far.]

[wise_maiden]

That's correct.

[Raine hadn't elaborated before, and still seems to hold to that secretiveness as she listens to Sophia's questions and responds accordingly. The facts are what are important, not her personal narrative.]

They're very strict. Even before the occupation, it was how our society had developed. With the dwindling of some of the greater families, most ideals focus on how to preserve the old blood, even now. [Certainly backwards by Union standards, and it said quite a lot about the mages that were living there, non-conformists all in their own ways.] If that is to change, it may take a very long time.

[ofpromisedvictory]

[Saber thinks about this, and nods.]

That's a good outlook on things. We can't always choose our fate, but we can choose how we face it.

[Then she offers a hand.]

Let me help you with some of that, if you don't mind.

[soulofmagus]

Exactly.

[ There's an unhappy noise from the Leafeon, however. She wishes to stay with Sophia, to choose to stay at her side - but Sophia won't bring her when she goes to Gigas.

The aquamarine haired woman may not understand exactly what is said, but she certainly gets the gist, and glances down in sympathy - but it's clear from her expression she won't budge on that.

She does look briefly surprised at the offer, however. ]

I..Thank you. I don't want you going out of your way if you're busy yourself, though.

[not that she's ungrateful, it's just that she's not certain what sort of preparations Saber needs to make. Assuming she has anything left to do.

The little noibat crawls further up her hair, and chitters at Saber happily. Me! Me!]

[soulofmagus]

Strict, and somewhat selfish. But I suppose it was one way to ensure survival of the most fit members of your society.

[Yours, in the more generic sense than Raine's specifically. She might be Mage by birth, but she is still removed from it to a degree]

Change may well be happening far quicker than they would like, at that. Union certainly sees to that.. [take this war, for example, even if it was instigated by the gods] And those of us who live in Union have the chance to set out out own ideals for how mages should be, don't you think?

When we go home, perhaps we should gather other Union mages to discuss it.

[wise_maiden]

[Raine pales a little as Sophia's words sink in.]

... The Mage community that's growing in Union is far removed from the one back in Sanctuary, and with good reason. I have to admit, I'm not entirely comfortable with the thought of coming up with our own ideals to oppose them with.

[There were simply times when it seemed that the spirit of Union's optimism was too overwhelming despite seeing what they could accomplish, with the weight or perhaps burden of personal experience still with her, of the knowledge of that closed-off society. She closes her eyes for a moment, and exhales, softly.] Though they seem to think very little of Union as it is, for the moment, so ... developing ideas among ourselves might not be a bad idea either. It's a lot to think about.

[soulofmagus]

Oh. [Sophia blinks, then pales and shakes her head at once, letting the bottle drop to her lap as both hands are lifted placatingly.] No. No. I did not mean.. I did not mean to oppose them, or force change in Sanctuary.

[such things were better left to native Unionites - they tended to have that sort of impact on others.]

But what works there is not necessarily likely to work everywhere, and..To be honest, that attitude runs against the grain of Union's. I've enjoyed working with you, and with Waver, with learning magery together. If we can encourage that as a standard, I think it would benefit us all more than keeping that learning segregated.

[wise_maiden]

I do wonder. What we're doing now feels... safe, because we're keeping it among ourselves. Still, there are other mages who have taken up their own practices in Union as well. The basics are being introduced into the school system, at the very least.

[And it was the very least, from what she had seen of it. There's still a lingering discomfort to her expression, even with Sophia's reassurances.]

So ... the foundation is there. Perhaps.

[soulofmagus]

[ The discomfort is hard to miss. ]

..But you don't like the idea. Or does something else concern you?

[wise_maiden]

It's not that I don't like it.

[But she still pauses, gaze flickering back down to her hands in her lap.]

... I'm sorry. These are very good ideas. I suppose the whole concept of it is strange to me, knowing what I grew up with, and just how different the societies are. In some ways it almost feels ... illegal, though I can't imagine how much attention it would attract. If at all.

[soulofmagus]

[ There's a slight tip of Sophia's head to one side, expression growing sympathetic. The Lucario's ears flick back and forth, wondering if she could be concerned, before settling down and watching the humans. ]

..You don't need to apologise. Ideas are just that. And, I should have considered that they might not be so simple to those used to growing up under other laws and regulations. [and a Gigan occupation besides.] ..How would it be illegal, exactly?

[wise_maiden]

[She nods, taking a moment before responding.] ... I suppose it depends on how much knowledge ends up being shared. Mages can become very particular about the availability of certain concepts. It's why the main library access was restricted to begin with.

[ofpromisedvictory]

[Saber nods solemnly to Gebo. She understands the sentiment.]

I don't have much in the way of possessions or worldly affairs, and even I need a break from training at some point. It's no trouble.

[soulofmagus]

[ Me! Me! Carry me!

There's finally an amused sounds from Gebo, having returned that nod, and she simply shakes her head at the bat. ]

Then thank you. I do accept. If you could take this box?

[The larger and lower of the two she's holding, in addition to the bag sling over her shoulder. There's a flicker over her skin as her recently gained steel typing helps reinforce her strength - that box is heavier than it looks, and clinks slightly; it contains medicine vials for deliver back to Ranger HQ. ]

Have you been training for war, or for other things? I have not seen much of you lately.

[soulofmagus]

In the very least, a shared basic education open to all at the same level regardless of status seems a practical idea to me. [she smiles slightly. It's what they'd given her, after all, and she was still a no-one.] My own spell experience is lacking where high level knowledge is concerned.

[wise_maiden]

... That sounds fair. From what I've peeked at about the current curriculum, the Council didn't offer very much beyond even the very basics. Certainly not enough to work with to inspire anything new, though perhaps that was their point.

[She wouldn't put it past them; they'd want their brightest to remain in their own city's ranks.]

[soulofmagus]

Hmm. A solid foundation is important. But not providing more beyond sounds as much a way to keep people out as it is to keep people in. [her head shakes slightly with a sigh. It's easy for her to criticize, and it's not a path for her to follow when she lacks the life experience.

After all, so much of that is likely related to the Gigan Occupation to boot.]

Helping others realise where their path might lie once basic training is done.. That sounds well suited to us. Once we get home.

[wise_maiden]

[Raine knows Sanctuary's practices to be what they are, but so much of that secrecy has been ingrained in her. It's a thin line, wanting to help others but feeling paralyzed at the thought of doing so too openly.]

... yes, you're right. [They're all rather uniquely positioned in their own ways for it, and it was really only that shadow of traditionalism that was lurking over it. Hadn't she brought her brother here to get away from it all anyway? As reluctant as she felt, she does nod, as distant as her eyes are.] There's a lot more that can be offered without people getting into trouble or feeling as if they've been left to their own devices. It's... something to think about.

[ofpromisedvictory]

[Saber grabs the box and hefts it more easily than a woman of her stature really should - Sophia isn't the only Enlightened helped by typing. When she hears the clinking, though, she makes sure to stay careful.]

Mostly war. Fighting is my specialty, after all, even if it isn't my type. I also find that my partners look to me for guidance. Apparently Warp Bands promote that kind of loyalty for anyone, not just humans.