• Nobles of Null is a forum based roleplay site where sci-fi and magic collide. Here, Earth remains fractured and divided despite humanity reaching out to the stars. Worse still, the trans-human slaves of one major power have escaped, only to establish their own Empire, seething with resentment at abuses of the past. Even the discovery of aliens, though medieval in development, has failed to rally these squabbling children of Earth together with its far darker implications. Worse still, is the discovery of the impossible - magic. Practiced by the alien locals, nearly depleted and therefore rare, its reality warping abilities remains abstract and distant to the general populace. All the while, unseen in the darkness of space, forces from without threaten to press in. For those with eyes opened by insight, it is clear that an era is about to end, and that a new age will dawn.

IDS Yīnghuā - Log 3.0: "...make him believe you are close."

"Hoshiko, we're gonna have to sit down and watch some period dramas. There's more to sex appeal than just shoving boobs into someone's face." Jun would switch from her armored suit to a Han Era courtesan outfit with a comfy looking green coat with large sleeves over a red dress that was tightened around her body just under her bust by a red and gold belt. She also put her hair up and adorned herself with gold jewelry. "That said, we could always use the standard interrogation technique."

"Not a bad flavor to it, go ahead and have some!" Jun said out loud, pressing her alcoholic drink up against the young Aoi Si's mouth while guiding his hands to hold it.
 
"These Aos Si are idiots." Wen turned to Reina and commented. "They sent a child on a diplomatic mission. Look at him. He's fraying at the seams, and Nimue doesn't seem intent on helping. The Aos Si are disunited. We should exploit their weaknesses. Princess Hoshiko, if you want to offer them saving grace for better concessions, I will not disagree, but I want answers first."

Wen pressed the issue. By the sounds of the back and forth conversation, the male Aos Si was inexperienced and was breaking at the seams, while Lady Nimue, while being more composed, seemed to be uninterested in saving her fellow Aos Si counterpart.

"There seems to be a disagreement between your teachings, and what your 'Angel' is actually delivering." Wen commented out loud, stepping closer into Nimdorn's personal space while Jun pressed him physically with the alcohol. "Why the spaceports? Did your angel command you to build such a structure? Are you seeking to compete with the Daqinren in orbit? Or are you simply attempting to avoid the upcoming calamity?"
 
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Sakura didn't like how that thing laughed one bit, or how the bird like thing goaded the boy.

"I knew there was something fishy with the spaceports" she said in VR, "Also I really don't like that thing, I think I think we need to be ready to shoot it if it tries something hostile" she added. Was the shoot first and ask questions maybe never suggestion a bit stereotypical for a soldier? Yes. It didn't make it the wrong option though.

Meanwhile in meatspace she maintained her composted and calm stance at Hoshiko's shoulder. Her body silently and subtly getting ready to spring into action if needed.
 
"...it's not my fault I'm mostly good at spaceships and soldiering..." Hoshiko grumbled to herself. The thought of being 'Ladylike' or whatever made the princess feel funny, and not in a good way. Her other half hung up the ancient communication device with an exasperated sigh as Hoshiko converged at her seat and summoned a flan to sooth her ego. "Not idiots," she half-irately rebuked Wen. "Going by post-apocalypse rules, the kid is the one in charge because rule by lineage is more stable than other forms of governance." Downing another spoonful of the sweet caramel flavored jiggly stuff, she softened her voice and added, "Nimue is neutral by the looks of it so getting her on our side - or even staying neutral - is a win for us. And she's not wrong to be like that, given what the southern faction of Aos'Si want to do."

"Hey, wait a - " the young man put worries of his world view shattering on pause as Jun merrily pushed the drink on him. Nimdorn quickly imbibed some of the drink to avoid gagging and choking on it, but as soon as he was able to, his face screwed up into disgust. "Bleh! I can't believe brother said I'd like it when I grew up!" he began to rage, only for his own mention of the departed sibling to take the wind out of his sails. Nimdorn couldn't say much more though, as he quietly glared at Wen in fuming anger.

"Yeah Sakura. I feel pretty lame now," she admitted to her space marine. "Should have realized the Tolkien-folk were up to no good the moment we saw those space ships. Even though we didn't recognize them as that at first..."

"If I may," Lady Nimue spoke up, raising a hand in brief. "It should be well clear now that the folk of Faelindor intended aggressive action against the Daqin Empire, believing that it was the root cause of the prophesied calamity." She gestured to the Archangel, which remained quiet despite having an even more haughty air about it than before. "Her Holiness only delivers the possibility and answers honestly where she can. But..." she paused and dramatically turned to look at the divine herald. "You are not allowed to say too much, are you?"

"Oh, finally, more thinking is being done," it replied. "Yes, yes. There are barriers within my mind, and I am cut off from a much greater whole. I even suspect I am not as newly made as I think I am, haha!" the Archangel briefly laughed.

"Wait, if this prophesy is caused by one of us, then why don't we just...not do anything?" Hoshiko blurted out. "Let's make a peace treaty, and come up with some terms that everyone can abide by!" Taking the opportunity that Wen suggested, the tiger princess pounced on the opportunity to drive a wedge between the Aos'Si! "What do your people want and need, Lady Nimue? If you name it, we can begin talking about it!"

"Oh, I like that idea!" the Archangel sarcastically began. "Let's all gather around the fire place, drink and eat and be merry all together...." It paused, turning its unnervingly eyeless face upon them all. "But aren't you countryside peasants forgetting about something? Maybe me?"
 
No one had noticed Aitana split off from the main group, so her return was somewhat of a surprise. She rejoined the party through a door in the corner of the chamber, with her helmet removed and her hair untied. The albatross was swirling a half-empty glass of the beverage that was being served (from somewhere), and over her flight suit, she had draped a set of ceremonial robes not unlike the ones the Aos Si were wearing (from somewhere). When she spotted the bird-monster near the center of the conversation, she began to reach for her pistol, but stopped herself, instead regarding the hosts with her usual kind smile.

"Apologies for my tardiness, I had to... freshen up," Aitana explained. "Have the negotiations begun? I am sure we can find our way to a mutually beneficial arrangement with enough patience and drink." She glanced down at the Aos Si child, somewhat bemused. "Pardon me, young man, are you lost?"
 
"Indeed, the Mother Empress teaches us that the stability of a ruling linage lets the rest of society focus on the tasks they are best at." Xian replied, nodding sagely in the virtuality.

"Oh you'll like it when you're older and tired of those sickly-sweet colas and juices." Jun said, encouraging the young Aoi Si to have another drink as she went to go get her own, guiding the young man along with her.
 
"No it's okay" Sakura replied in VR, "There's so much going on right now, its easy for detailed to slip by" she shrugged.

In meatspace she noted Aitana arriving and tensed as she saw them begin to reach for their sidearm, only to think better and talk instead. Sakura let out a breath, that could have been the worst possible thing to happen in this moment if that gun had been drawn.
 
VR Reina sighs, "I'd like to give the 'Angel' the benefit of the doubt, but the way its been talking so far makes it seem like it does know more than what its saying and is letting the Aos'Si cover for it... If what Lady Nimue says is indeed the truth however, the bird seems to ooze unfounded arrogance of someone who actually knows little... but I can't also help but hear blatant sarcasm and falseness in its tone, like its mocking us for knowing its full of it but can't do anything about it."

She makes a frustrated sound and shoves a piece of cake in her mouth, mumbling "Or I'm just being extra paranoid because of how it makes me feel?... Like the creature is looking past me and laughing at what it sees." After a couple of seconds she snaps out of it and points to Jun, then Hoshiko, "Yes, yes the kid is important but we don't need to antagonize the little one... besides, I'm not too sure you should be giving a minor alcohol, especially one so important in front of the other Aos'Si..."

Reina addresses the 'angel,' trying to remain neutral in her tone, "Oh?! Sorry... what are we forgetting exactly? Its not like we barred you from participating in talking things over... though, if your knowledge is as limited as you claim, what would you be weighing in on exactly? If I recall, you still haven't really answered my question either. What is your purpose here, right at this moment?"
 
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"What's a cola?" the young boy-king asked Jun.

"I guess you're right Sakura. I'm being too hard on myself," Hoshiko realized. It seemed that things were going to be okay. They just had to be polite and diplomatic about this! And Aitana had even returned, with gifts the Aos'Si gave her! "Oh no." Hearing her words, the young boy's ire instantly flamed up at Aitana as Hoshiko's chat invite annoyingly buzzed against the feathered woman's mind.

"For your information, I am the Sovereign of this great nation!" Nimdorn defiantly stood his ground. "I will not - "

"Shush!" a long, clawed finger pressed itself over the boy's lips. The almost gangly, feather covered arm and its four fingered hand retracted, vanishing into the folds of its wings as fast as it appeared. The Archangel turned its ever-smiling, eyeless gaze on Reina with the smoothness of an auto-turret slewing to a target. Mouth open, yet still, its voice came out like something from a speaker box. "Did I just...hear some...sarcasm?" the avian alien stepped towards Reina. "Derision? Mockery? Disrespect, even?" it asked, taking another step towards Reina.

"Guys, guys, let's be calm and rational!" Hoshiko held her arms out over the cafe table. However, looking at the television, she stopped trying to calm them all down. "Wait...the way it's acting now seems to be...different? Like it's genuine or something," the princess realized. "Actually, be a bad girl Reina! I think this might be getting us somewhere with it!"
 
"Its a sweet drink. Goes well with spirits." Jun explained,

"Hoshiko's Mother, these Keebs don't even have Cola. This community is going to be ravaged by the discovery of Party Favors and drinking. You ever see one of those home schooled mega-nerds finally get to experience freedom for the first time? Actually the first party they have will probably be really fun but total disaster after that." Jun complained in the virtuality.

Meanwhile Xian would share targeting data with the group, positioning herself so that if she were to shoot she wouldn't be in danger of hitting one of the other Daqin by accident.
 
Reina visibly sighs and doesn't back down at the Archangel's advance, "Sarcasm? Disrespect? I do no such thing. No, no, I think I've been very direct with you. We are here for a purpose. I would think a very important purpose. The Aos'Si and the Daqinren share this purpose to discover our future together be it for good or ill. No, what is disrespectful is to treat that purpose as of little consequence and to laugh at the plight of us 'lessers' like its childish squabbling in a game. No, what is disrespectful is to pretend knowing nothing while expecting everything. The audacity to fane anger at the hint you aren't included and to continue to ignore a very important question. Must I ask it thrice like from mythology of old to get that answer? What is your purpose h-"

Suddenly, a ripple of energy centered on the snake woman makes itself known, distorting the air around her. It dissipates quickly, but a chill fills the air and frost forms on her clothes, scales, and the surfaces near her.

She makes a sound of surprise and falls to the floor shivering, "...wHAatt?... cOolDD..."

In the cafe, Reina's form starts to glitch and she pulls up her bio monitor, showing that her body temperature has dropped significantly. Emergency life support systems in her body flare to life to try to keep her body temp up, with some minor success. If she wasn't of the Daqinren, she would probably have gone into shock by now...

She pulls up a 3d image of her internals. It shows that her previously inactive Heart Stone seems to be alive with activity, beating along with her heart despite its inorganic appearance. The energy it gives off actually causes the image some interference, causing it to fuzz up and become indistinct.

"Shit..." She looks to everyone else at the table, "Not sure what to do about this... its getting kinda hard to think..."
 
"You mean a portion of them will start liking how we party too much, and then they'll have a civil war about it," Hoshiko reminded Jun. "Like in The Republic." Even as she said this though, she watched the meatspace Reina through their cafe's television screen and tried to hide the fact she was sitting on edge. She didn't like this creature, and she liked it even less when it mocked Reina back.

"Do-hohohohoho!" a hand briefly popped out of the Archangel's plumage as it laughed. "Such cold thoughts!" it chided the serpent Daqin woman. "But, that is to be expected from someone who can still critically think." Its eyeless head turned to 'glance' at Nimue, and then the much closer Nimdorn, who instinctively withdrew behind the much taller Jun. However, its attention turned back to Reina, and their suit sensors madly spiked.

"Don't move! It's emitting, but don't move!" Hoshiko suddenly stood up, arms out as she ordered her charges to hold.

As one hand vanished back into the Archangel's collection of feathers, another popped up, and its claws clicked. Once. Twice. Three times, and at each click, a flame briefly burst to life above the serpent woman, warming her back up. "Those such as I are governed by rules," it began, retracting the casting limb from view. "We cannot be rude unless one has been rude to us in turn. And saying no is rude, is it not?" it rhetorically asked. "You and your companions seem to be clever eggs, Your Deliciousness. Mayhaps you will derive the answers from my message." It cleared its throat and recited the bit,

Aos'Si.
Beloved Children of Iserlohn.
The Grace of Gold lifts the veil between what is, and what will be.
Calamity.
So it shall be, that one hand will act in pride, moving when stillness is virtue.
The world, which has endured much, will endure no more.
This foresight tis but a flickering ember!
But fear not.
With worship and oblations, an ember can grow to flame and bring light to darkness.​

"It was more impressive the first time," Nimdorn grumbled beside Jun.

"Someone was rude to me, so I get to behave like a mortal for a bit. I don't see why I have to be fancy each and every time I say the message." Waddling like a duck, it came over to the table by Wen, and its beak snapped up a cooked snake-alien-thing, sauce and all. "Oh!" the Archangel suddenly remembered an afterthought, licking its 'lips'. "How often was worship again?" it turned its head to the Aos'Si sovereigns.

"Following tradition, once a month, with great reveille," Lady Nimue promptly answered.

"There. Another clue for you," the Archangel's eyeless face smiled at the Daqinren.

"Oh no..." Hoshiko covered her mouth with her hand.
 
"It is literally a messenger," Wen came to an apathy, but grumbled at his thought. "The worst kind: an American capitalist advertiser. These Aos Si morons are paying a subscription fee: every moon, it gives them dribbles of information, for who knows how much catonite in return. Mother Empress help me, the gods are real and they are chief executive officers."

Wen rolled his eyes in virtual space, then quipped sarcastically. "We should close the gates and never come back. Listening an engaging with these things will only lower our intelligence."
 
Sakura eyes thr bird thing with a growing level of disgust. She did not like its attitude, how it talked about and treated these people, nor how it talked to them and especially her Princess.

Her violet eyes darted to Hoshiko, then back to the archangel. "It's petulant for a messenger" she said to the others in VR space. "But I don't think just packing up our ball and going home is the right path" she replied to Wen in virtual. "I think that'll probably come back and bite us in a decade or so..." she trailed off, thinking. Shit like this always came back to be a big problem ten years after.
 
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