Inner Sanctum

Rynhart was seated within the inner sanctum of the Patronus Temple with several other senior members gathered, including that of Scarlet Dae who had made the trip from Academia Celestia to discuss matters. It had been at Elante's request that this meeting be held, and even with everyone gathered here today, the aloofness of the swordsmaster was present.

Each day that passed only took him further from the Patronus - a fact that wasn't going unnoticed by many. Even the young students could feel it.

Today though the topic at hand wasn't him, but rather that of the Cybran threat that had apparently risen up out of the ocean - quite literally.

"Glad everyone could make it," Elante said, smiling hesitantly as his friends - new and old - settled into their seats. The young mage was a little nervous at being effectively the de-facto leader of this meeting by his having requested it. "You've probably all heard by now about the cybran attack on Volaria. News travels fast these days and all. You've probably also heard about the other invasion force that's trying to set up on another island - Gonthar, one of the three titans. For anyone not up to scruff on their geograohy, they're a trio of islands to the north of the Great Black Water, and a popular tourist destination."

He coughed, "So, well, after hearing about that, I figured it was something we needed to be concerned with. There are a lot of innocents at risk, so whilst I know we don't really do wars, I think this is something that threatens Terra as a whole, rather than being political. I think we should intervene."

Across from him, Scarlet folded her arms and leaned back thoughtfully. "Cybrans. I don't know a lot about them, but everything I have heard is bad news. It's certainly nothing good that they're trying to stake a claim on a chunk of Terra, and the fact that they're apparently packing nukes to do the job just reinforces me not really liking the idea." The headmistress shook her head, "We may not do wars, but this is heading straight towards attempted genocide, and war or not, that's evil through and through. The kind of thing it's definitely in our job description to prevent."

"Yeah. Space Nazis, sea Nazis. Next thing it'll be sand Nazis and then magma Nazis, and that last one just sounds scary." Aeryn remarked, smirking. "I've heard enough about Nazis to know that anything with them involved is prooobably mostly gonna involve being a colossal evil jerk on a broad scale. Comic book villain level shit. I mean c'mon, who rises out of the ocean to invade for any other reason than making good entertainment? Style points, sure, but it's gotta suck for the whole "winning" thing."

Apparently realising he was going off on one, or possibly in response to a swift kick from Elante under the table, Aeryn coughed and straightened his face. "But, seriously. I'm with Elante. All fine and dandy to stay out of wars until there's another glassing that we could have prevented but didn't because it was part of a war."

In her own seat, Aiedai's expression had remained unchanging throughout the discussion. It was only now that she - however briefly - spoke up. "There is much malice in their actions." she said, "There is desperation. Vengeance for a believed injustice. I do not believe they will ever be receptive to reason or diplomacy."

"Did someone call?" a chuckling voice asked as the familiar figure of Ravenlock rose up out of Scarlet's shadow at the mention of genocide. "I thought you might be having need of my services..." he drolled. "I grow bored of Wing City."

His appearance garnered him some unpleasant looks from Shelby, but the Paladin kept her thoughts on the topic at hand as she too spoke.

"The Knights of Le'thorian are not as strongly bound in our neutrality as the Patronus have become," she began, "but if we were to send our forces to aid these other lands, we would leave our own unprotected. I do not know that we have the resources to extend our reach that far, but I am inclined to stand with the others that something should be done. Do the patroni not swear to serve and protect the people of Terra?" she asked. "How can they do that if they are unwilling to fight."

Rynhart listened to the others speak as he mulled the situation over. It had been Rhea's vision that had steered the Patronus towards pacifism and neutrality, not his. But truth be told, he hadn't a strong stake in either end of the spectrum. He was simply going through the paces day by day.

"If we were to send aid, our claim of neutrality would no longer hold any weight," Rynhart answered finally. He folded his hands under his chin as he thought on the matter. "We can't pick and choose what wars we decide to play part in. It is my belief that this war is the folly of man and nothing more. It is in human nature to war among themselves."

"Oh, for pity's sake." Scarlet glowered across at Ravenlock, "I thought I'd be able to catch a break from your pestering here." she muttered, shaking her head.

In the meantime Elante - used to Ravenlock's presence by now - hardly raised a brow at his arrival. "Neutrality is an almost impossible concept if we ever intend to take action on more than a local scale," he pointed out, "It isn't that often that evil dresses itself up in black robes and states that it wants to destroy the world in a very pointedly fair manner. It hides behind politics and wars. I don't think anyone could question that genocide against civilians is evil."

Scarlet nodded her head, "I think there's a notable difference between reacting to an unprovoked and enormous military assault on a civilian location and entirely shedding our neutrality. We aren't backing a government in a war, we're defending people across multiple continents."

"Rynhart speaks the truth," Aiedai noted, "It is in human nature to war. We lack the necessary information to be able to say with absolute certainty that there is not more behind this attack than there appears to be. Absolute certainty is, however, a rare thing indeed." Even while she spoke, the girl's eyes seemed hardly to focus on the room and the discussion, gazing off into the distance as though distracted by something far away.

"There is no questioning the nature of their acts, however. Regardless of their motivations, the assault on millions of innocents must be stopped."

Aeryn nodded, "Yeah, heck, I'd say fuck neutrality. Rhea would have us sit around making daisy chains and throwing bandages down from the sky before we stepped into stop a bunch of bastards being evil just 'cause some bigged up tit in a fancy chair told them to do it because some other bigged up tit in a fancy chair pissed the first bigged up tit off. Immoral's immoral, whether it's in war or not."

It would seem that they were all in agreement on this matter, and Rynhart's own resolve teetered on the brink of indifference. He finally simply nodded. He couldn't stay the Knights of Le'thorian, or the Academies from acting anyways.

"We will send assistance then. Take only the strongest, and the most experienced," Rynhart said finally. "The Knights of Le'thorian should remain here to protect Windcrest and the Temple in the absence of so many of the Order."

He stood then to take his leave, and it seemed likely he wouldn't be going with them, and even more likely that he would not be here when they returned.