melodiesoflife | Meetings and Strategy

Entry tags:

Meetings and Strategy

Characters: NPCs and the Heroes of Light.
Where: castle of Aqures Ixen | Calm Plains
When: 10th July | 12th July
Summary: Characters all received a Mognet Letter informing them of the upcoming meeting. It happens in the reunion room in the Castle of Aqures Ixen. If you . Feel free to start your own threads for IC Plotting! If you need to speak to a NPC or have to share your plan with them, reply to the appropriate thread below. Characters who received Kurma's letter will be able to meet him on the 12th of July.
Warning: NA

Ultima Weapon Plan
Mysterious Message
The Militaries
Law Enforcement
Civilians

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As much as Sephiroth might commend Zelda for all of her forethought to the preparation, and and all plans made at this early stage had to be taken with a pinch of salt. Unless Zelda knew something that he didn't, the objective against the Heroes of Light didn't put all districts in as much danger as each other- at least not in his opinion.

There were districts they could not afford to lose, and still others that might be targeted to deal with or flush out anywhere that Heroes might hide. As for a hundred heroes-

Sephiroth gave Zelda a long, searching look, inspecting her for any hint that she might have convinced a great many to stay who would have been best fleeing. That wouldn't do at all, it was all very well the 'Heroic intention' to save the day but simply put, many Heroes didn't have the combat capacity that would keep them alive against what was coming. The numbers...they couldn't afford weak links or liabilities.

He fought to keep his expression neutral but a frown had started to creep down between his eyebrows the more that Sephiroth thought about it.

"I'm not so sure about that. While there are a few pockets of support for the Heroes within the military, it's by no means something to weigh a plan against. Especially given the odds we're predicted to face. Heroes according to Legend does not mean actual gods."

Though, he did nod with a 'hm' at Zelda's intention to stay at the Observatory. In these early stages, Sephiroth knew the importance of keeping the military operation cooperative, but by no means integrated with, that of the others. It would be only natural for one of the guild founders to hold the ground there- but it would be some time before he'd be able to see if he could stretch a force to be stationed nearby. It was a rather large and obvious target.

She knew that not every location in the city was necessary but she wanted to protect the city as well as the important landmarks. She wanted those who fled to have homes and lives to return to. In a way she blamed herself, it was most likely the heroes who brought the Empire here so quickly. There was something here the Empire wanted.

She banished the thought keeping her gaze locked with Sephiroth. This wasn't a time to guess.

She had tried to convince heroes to leave but her attempts had been fruitless. In that respect she wanted the heroes stay to be prepared so that they wouldn't get hurt or put others in danger. There was no way to prepare those unused to it for war.

"I know but those who stay should have a position where they can help." Otherwise they might do something stupid and get in the way. It was a sad realization but she knew the tendency of the heroes to rush in without thinking it through. "Or at least given goals so they aren't wandering around aimlessly." She didn't want anyone killed or captured either.

Zelda wouldn't have thought that she needed anyone nearby as she slowly formulated plans about what to do at the observatory. If she had to she would hold the observatory alone. It was a promise. Her gaze inspected Sephiroth's curiously. "I'd like to hear your plans as well. I know the military will be organizing it's defense. I think those staying should help; working together."

To Sephiroth it seemed to coincide too neatly after that girl had stolen a great number of them away to an alternate reality. If Garland had been somehow keeping an eye on the Heroes as a whole, and if they were indeed part of the very Calamity that according to legend they'd been sent here to fight, he could appreciate well how that might cause Garland to panic and attempt to put an end to them as a defensive counter-measure. Never mind that they didn't have concrete evidence one way or the other yet with regards to what exactly Heroes of Light truly were.

It's quite likely that no matter how many might stay to fight and want to do their best, it would never be an acceptable number of them staying behind, to him. Too many unknowns that he would have no authority over at all.

Desperation can make fools out even the most controlled of individuals.

At some point he'd lowered his gaze to the map again, clearly weighing up options behind those flaring eyes of his.

"The military isn't being brought in to defend. We're being dispatched here to fight them."

Zelda couldn't say she knew the difference except that she knew that homes and those staying behind might get hurt with that mentality.

"Then the heroes should focus on either Jessie's plan or getting those who've stayed behind to leave." She spoke aloud for clarification and for Sephiroth's opinion. It wasn't hard to guess that some wanted to heroes to leave, like Cid, while others wanted the heroes to stay, like Jessie. She wasn't sure which was the more valid school of thought but she would be prepared for whatever the heroes choose to do.

She only wished they knew more.

Fighting would inevitably cause collateral damage, injury or even death but if that was the objective then those things just came as a consequence. A consequence that Sephiroth knew well. It wasn't a case of accepting that lives would be lost, that livelihoods would be destroyed...Sephiroth had already accepted that- he now had to move on from that and think objectively.

It was unacceptable to allow himself to become so connected emotionally, yet at the same time those connections he had with others in the City was what the military effort would come to rely upon.

"As much as it's important that Aqures remains standing, going in with an impossible dream simply isn't going to cut it - we'll be much too stretched as it is. I believe that the local security forces are best positioned to plan with regards to defensive stratagem but much like the military force there is limitation there."

Cool and callous, to the last.

Thinking objectively wasn't a talent that Zelda possessed. She thought a lot and so she worried a lot and she tried to put everything on herself. She knew that some things would be lost be them lives or home but she didn't want to face that fact until she had too. It was hard for her and she'd rather remain hopeful.

She believed in people and the power that they were given when protecting their homes. You were stronger when you had something to protect which was why she thought their bonds were important as well. Though those very things would get people hurt.

Zelda didn't put up an argument to Sephiroth's assessment. She just nodded leaving her thoughts of hope to herself.

"I'm going to set up at trap at the observatory. The building will most likely not survive this battle anyway and I hope to cut off groups of people there." It was on the out skirts which made it a good position. "It isn't an important area, I'm sure thinning troops in those areas might be wise. Same with the districts that the heroes of light live."

It might also be apparent that Zelda wasn't the most skilled with strategies.

He had a habit of placing an disproportionate amount of responsibility on himself whenever it came to performing in a field he was experienced in and Sephiroth's role now placed him in exactly the place where he knew his actions may contribute towards the fate of an entire Kingdom. The stress hadn't struck at all just yet, but then he was well trained in keeping a lid on that. Accepting that there would be loss was part of fighting a war.

Hopes and dreams had to be put aside. He had to deal with facts and statistics now.

"It would be a shame, to lose that which you've all worked so tirelessly to build but indeed its position gives it a weakness now. As with the 14th and 11th, one would count it a primary target if destroying Heroes of Light is really their objective. Leave no ground to go to."

It stirred an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of Sephiroth's gut as he thought of all the Heroes staying behind; but he hardly had the authority to force others to leave.

Zelda nodded. “The building can be rebuilt and since it will be a target I should use that fact against the Empire.” Their homes would be too but that area was so vast that she couldn’t possibly set it up as anything useful. She would have to leave the other heroes for that, if they so wished it.

She glanced up at the stoic soldier, her gaze focused and serious. “I wanted to know your thoughts on my plan. It would be out of the way of the soldiers and I should be able to think their ranks. I plan to sit in the top of the observatory with my loftwing. If things become dangerous I can fly off.”

She could also use the bird in battle but she preferred not to. Her loftwing wasn’t accustom to flying in a war zone let alone fighting in one.

"Hm." It wasn't a bad idea, all considered but the military operation were still very much in the planning stages. But to let on that he had no idea at all how the operation might run just yet would be a sign of weakness in leadership right from the start; only those in the know within the military knew that Sephiroth had only a few hours ago actually been assigned the mission.

He'd thought that he'd best serve in Esdham, where there were no complications or personal consideration to hamper his judgment. Clearly senior command had thought that due to those exact reasons he'd be the perfect selection; quite the opposite to anything he might have expected.

"It depends very much on how they might plan to attack. It may well prove a useful place to have booby-trapped, or not, depending on their intelligence or even if it is considered an objective of theirs to invade that district."

Zelda nodded. “I will take precautions then.” She looked back down at the map remembering that her loftwing was in the city as well. She couldn’t convince the bird to leave so perhaps she can use her to transport herself easily around the city. She can set up the Observatory and then fly out to help or meet the soldiers who are advancing. She’s already planning to use her illusionist abilities but maybe she could equip white mage or paladin to lend a hand elsewhere.

For a moment she was lost in thought but as quickly as she slipped into the dark corridors of her mind she was back, looking up at him with bright blue eyes.

“Thank you. I think I have a better idea of what I can do now.” Talking to Sephiroth always managed to help clear her mind and for that she was happy that she had him as a friend. Even if he didn’t consider their relationship as a friendship.

Sephiroth smiled lightly, but a little broader at Zelda as she first slipped into thought and then came back. It seemed that their conversation had triggered some inspiration of a sort in Zelda and for that reason he was pleased. Since she had decided to stay and fight, considering she was as much a veteran Hero as himself, it would be a waste indeed to have her skills wasted in one location.

"Zelda-" It seemed that, with that, their discussion might well have reached its end but for one thing which had struck him as she had been thinking.

"-there might well be things that happen that we cannot prepare for. Such is the nature of war." He looked around briefly before stepping a little closer to her and lowering his voice. "Please remember, those in Flence and Trano are still going to need the Heroes Guild."

Zelda felt a slight flush to her face realizing what it was that her and Asheila had created all those months ago. The thought of the guild had stemmed from her lips as a foolish notion at the first gathering she had in her home and now it’s turned into something people relied on. It was important and she was happy that someone else had been so bold to tell her that.

She smiled at Sephiroth.

“Thank you. I won’t forget.” The guild was for everyone and she wouldn’t let that ever change. It would stand as they all will.

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Meetings and Strategy

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Open - Plans for Defense [After NPC Thread] - end?