barriers and raids and evil mermaids, oh my

[rebells]

Who: Dirk and Jay and you!
Where: In front of the coven's current abode.
When: Day 28 (8/4), around mid-day
Open/Closed: ota!

[It starts with a telepathic message over video, Jay using the mirror shard gifted by Genette to broadcast this message to the rest of the coven:]

It's come to our attention that some of you are going to want to help the Palai with their raid problem, so we thought--if we're going to be involved in this anyway, we might as well do it right. How about a meeting in front of our temporary home at noon? We'll discuss our strategy and assign roles. I'll broadcast it via this link, as well, for anyone who can't make it back in time. We welcome input from anyone who has a brain in their heads.

[If you come to the front of the house at the appointed time, you will indeed find Jay and Dirk standing together discussing--something, and perhaps a small crowd beginning to gather. This meeting will also be broadcast over the signets for anyone who wants to listen in there.]


((Comment away! Feel free to threadhop and such, as this is supposed to be an open meeting. OOC plotting post will go up soon.))

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INTRODUCTIONS/MINGLE

[rebells]

[Jay is by the front of the house the coven is staying in, pacing back and forth. He looks focused and serious, not at all smiley, which may or may not be a surprise to some of you. There's also a small-but-growing crowd of coven members, and maybe one or two Palai, too.]

Thank you for coming. You may have heard from the Palai about the raids that are conducted on the city by a warring species, the Uvi. I believe some of our number will be acting on this threat no matter what, so we thought it would be best to meet as a group and form a plan. In short, our goals are to first prevent the Uvi from doing any damage in the coming raid, and then work with the Palai to find a more permanent solution to the problem, if that's possible. We'll outline what we think is the ideal plan of action, but we welcome input from anyone with experience in the relevant areas.

GROUND TEAM/DEFENSE PLAN AND IC SIGNUPS

[splinten]

[Dirk doesn’t pace. He stays still while he waits, his expression impassive. When he talks, his voice is level and calm.]

According to the Palai, the Uvi are expected to attack in four days. We’re planning out a basic strategy for defending Aimintas. We’re actually working with the Palai on the best ideas for protecting their actual home on the grounds that we aren’t Kevin Costner in Dances With Wolves. They understand how the Uvi attack and can offer key intel, and ultimately, it’s their decision if and how they want us to be involved in this.

We’re still in the planning stages, so if you have strategic know-how, speak up. At this point we’re looking to locate highly mobile lookouts throughout the city ahead of the attack and station ground combatants throughout. We'll also need healing stations and a way to get our healers to the injured or the injured to our healers fast.

NEGOTIATION TEAM TENTATIVE PLAN AND IC SIGNUPS

[rebells]

To avoid confusion, it would be best if a small number of us, perhaps three or four at most, handled bringing our ideas to the Palai and, if they decide to go in that direction, helping them negotiate with the Uvi. I can handle high-stakes negotiation, but I'm not a charmer. Someone personable, reassuring, and articulate would be best for this, or someone with diplomatic experience. Ideally both.

[He shrugs, and for the first time looks dryly amused.]

You'll also be representing those of us gathered here, so I'll take your recommendations of other people more seriously than your recommending yourself, mind you.

MOBILE TEAM TENTATIVE PLAN AND IC SIGNUPS

[rebells]

While we get input from the Palai, we should also be preparing for a potential information-gathering operation. The Uvi appear to live in the water above the city, so we'll need people who can fly and move well through water. If you can't fly, but are willing to be carried by those who can, this team will also have a need for people who are skilled in reconnaissance and at least one or two negotiators.

The nature of this operation and our limited capacity for flight mean this team will be fairly small, so it would be ideal if you could also defend yourselves in case the worst happens. Our goal, if this team proves necessary, will be to track the Uvi back to their base of operations and carry out the strategy the Palai have decided on--whether that's negotiation or disabling their mechanism of attack.

BARRIER REMOVAL: AN ONGOING PROBLEM

[splinten]

[Oh no, it’s his turn again. But why. The monotone is less urgent this time; this is probably going to be an issue, but they still haven't found evidence that it is tied to the Uvi. The opposite would seem to eb true.]

Finally, we have the barrier to consider. For those who haven’t seen it, it’s bright white, and surrounds the entire island about a quarter of a mile inward. It’s essentially a giant bug zapper. If you touch it, you get the joy of being zapped, dazed, and incapacitated like a moth with zero discretionary capacity. Our estimate is that it runs on electricity-based magic.

At this point, we don’t think the barrier is related to the Uvi. It’s still something we want to investigate, so we’re taking ideas on how to get in. So far, our best ideas were barrier or electricity manipulation powers. Digging under might be an option for the optimistically inclined.

[soulcomet]

[almost immediately after he's done speaking, her hand shoots up. whatever misgivings she may have about her own magic aren't going to stop her from helping, wherever that may be.]

Um ... I can heal, but it's not really all that reliable — I'd probably be more useful if I was out front scouting, or fighting. [she's more agile than she looks.]

I'd be fine with wherever you wind up assigning me, though.

[splinten]

[Madoka... With his shades hiding his eyes, Madoka can't see the flicker of sadness through them. Dirk keeps his voice calm, knowing that Madoka will make this choice no matter what.]

You'll have a powerful emergency healing for the most seriously wounded. That's worth keeping track of.

The scouts will probably need to do skirmish fighting, and maybe get into the thick of it once things get started. Is that your choice?

[soulcomet]

[Madoka knows why he's asking — instinctively, she brings her hands together, fiddling with the ring set safely on her finger.]

[her magic will last only as long as her soul does. it can't be helped. but even though she does hesitate before answering, backing down was never an option that crossed her mind. Madoka nods, and offers a tiny smile. one that seems to say, "I'll think of something."]

It is. Just tell me where I need to be, and I'll be there.

[cadventuretime]

[A SINGLE HAND RAISES FROM THE CROWD.]

Excuse me! I'm here for the brains. When do we get one? I'm famished!

[YES SHE CAME ALL THE WAY HERE JUST TO SAY THAT.]

[splinten]

[Her smile, though slight, is one he can't doubt. Her determination shines through.]

Okay. [It's a nod, an affirmation: he trusts her.] How fast can you move?

[soulcomet]

Well, I can't fly like a lot of people here can, but ... things like buildings and distance aren't a problem.

[she goes where the Nightmares are — and that's usually high up. despite not being able to fly, a lot of her usual fighting is done mid-air. she may not know this city as well as she does her home, but that isn't an issue when one can cross the rooftops without much effort.]

[rebells]

[ . . .

. . .

. . .

No, give him a minute to switch modes.]

Ah, an idiot.

[cadventuretime]

Well, maybe you're offering?

This all seems pretty important, but if you're willing to part with yours who am I to say no?

[rebells]

I'm using it at the moment, unlike some people I could name, but thanks for inquiring.

[cadventuretime]

Oh, I see. I'll wait until you stop using it, then.

And calling dibs.

[rebells]

Don't expect that to happen any time soon.

[Despite his words, he seems a little like he's enjoying himself.]

Are you just here to make jokes, or did you actually want to hear what we have to say?

[needmetoo]

Um...I can do all those things too. Fighting and healing and running around. I can also control water a bit. So um, wherever you need me to be.

[She's still not 100% sure where she'll fit best, so she'll defer to their judgement here.]

[cadventuretime]

[That's good~ though Jay not enjoying himself wouldn't stop her really...]

Should I stay? It sounds like a lot of work to me.

Or are you really desperate for volunteers?

[splinten]

[damn, being a meguca may be suffering but it really does come with some sweet stats

Dirk considers the best way they can place that.]

We'll likely want our scouts on the highest buildings and spaced so they can quickly signal each other across the city. Your skills should be able to cover both of those.

[splinten]

[This is interesting, actually.]

The Uvi are reported to control water through magic for their descent. Do you think your magic might be able to shove them back into the ocean?

[oneandmikleonly]

[Mikleo can't be seen by everyone in the coven, but he's present and still able to broadcast publicly and telepathically]

I'd like to be part of this if it goes through. I could get one or two other people up in the sky and through the ocean as well, if they're willing to put up with a bumpy ride.

[parodeity]

[ at this point, dave raises his hand. ]

I can fly and move pretty fast. And do weird time shit. So probably I'd be useful here, or in the ground team, but yeah.

[rebells]

That depends on what you can do.

[soulcomet]

[with great stats comes great responsibility. and then ofc suffering.]

[but she nods. Madoka can do this. she's used to being on the front lines.]

What do you think I should do about healing? Wait until someone contacts me?

[cadventuretime]

What I can do depends on what I get for helping~

Though I do know one thing that I want~

[licks lips]