2017-08-01: The Two Ice Queens
- Log: The Two Ice Queens
- Cast: Riesenlied, Noeline, Ambrosius
- Where: Gounon
- Date: 1st August 2017
- Summary: Riesenlied and Noeline catch up with Ambrosius about the progress of his work on the Scutum, and also to share a tale of the Ice Queen...
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied has returned to where they're currently stationed following the events of Lacour -- Gounon, a city that's largely more allied with the Veruni and afforded with a little bit more in the way of safety and leverage. It isn't to say that it's perfectly safe, but... given what's happened recently, it gives them room to breathe, most important of all. Plus, there's that Temple nearby that still draws some scrutiny and curiosity... as well as a warning.
But Ambrosius had been with them to Lolithia's recently, and she's coming back with the red-coated Veruni to follow up on some other topics they'd discussed last in Old Petra. Where might she find his current workshop?
<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.
Even in Gounon, things weren't entirely safe. The people of the town were well aware of the beings that exerted control of them, but by design the world at large was kept mostly in the dark about this. So, when Ambrosius had set up the location that could most closely be referred to as 'home', he had done so a ways away from the hustle and bustle of the port town.
It was located not far from the riverside, and in the shadows of one of the cliffs that over-looked the town. There was no pathway that lead up to it - only a patio area outside a small building, with his workshop jutting out of the side of it. There was a small, round table in front, where he typically did most of his discussions. Set carefully on top of it was a bright-red poncho, folded up and with a hat placed on top of that.
They were both easily recognized as articles typically worn by Ambrosius. He must be here, then. And, indeed, if one looked into the workshop they would see him there now...and he did not appear to be alone.
A humanoid figure clad in blue could be found lying atop a worktable in the center of the workshop. On first glance, it might be easy to mistake it for a living being - but on closer inspection, it would become clear that this must be one of the mechanical soldiers from the Temple of Rejection. The mechanical soldier he spoke of. Ambrosius A tall, gangly fellow standing around 6'5"(around 198 cm). The entirety of his body is typically covered in some fashion, making it difficult to get a bead on what he looks like besides his face. His clothing, however, tends to attract all of the attention anyway.
His body is typically concealed by what appears to be a bright-red poncho. From the looks of it, it has been damaged and several places and repaired with patches of cloth that are nowhere near the original color, tending towards various other bright colors that match well with the patches surrounding them, though not necessarily the base garment itself.
Underneath that is a thick, hooded, cream-colored suit with a bright-orange sash. Affixed to this is the holster for what appears to a revolver. There are also bags across his person, each containing an assortment of innocuous-looking objects. He also wears gloves and boots - if removed, one can see that underneath the cream-colored suit he is covered up to his neck in a form-fitting maroon-colored garment.
The hood of this suit is typically worn up at all times, and secured with a black hat. There are often various baubles affixed to this hat, though they seem to change as he finds new and more interesting things to apply to it. Strands of pale-brown hair can be seen peeking out of the hood, and he has grey eyes.
His ears, if you can see them, have a slight but definite point to them.
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
The extra safety of the rather quiet city - at least, compared to the hustle and confusion of Lacour and Adlehyde in the wake of repeated attacks - allows Noeline the chance to flit in and out a little, seeking - in her own way - some more information on what might have happened to Lady Harken on that confused day in the arena. She makes sure to be back as quickly as possible, however, just as intent on preparing for the Ebony Wings to head westwards and find a new place to stay.
For now, she's at Riesenlied's side, honestly kind of enjoying the chance to not worry too much about who might be watching; Gounon's still got some green walks, after all, and while it's a little pastoral compared to her usual haunts, it does at least allow her to cling to the commander's arm with a light hum as they travel upriver towards the laboratory.
"Ah..." the spy chimes, her eyebrows picking up at the sight of the carefully folded articles. "... well, it must be a relief to be out of all of that for once, I suppose," she adds, tilting her head towards the discarded disguise - and then chuckles softly at the sight of the 'figure' laid out on the table as if in repose.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied certainly looks like she's much better at this point in time, having largely excised the last of the anxious stutters and fits that have gripped her in the last few weeks. Their walk is rather slow and comfortable, comforted to spend time with Noeline. But she lets out a quiet breath as she remarks, "Good afternoon, Mister Ambrosius. I hope we aren't intruding...? Thank you for your assistance at the Tomb," she expresses when they enter.
Her eyes are cast on the soldier on the table, as she laces her hands together. "So this is... the mechanical soldier?"
<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.
"Good afternoon..." Ambrosius replies, nodding to the two of them and standing to his full height. He had been sitting down before, waiting for the two of them to arrive. He had no problems with the fact they'd taken a detour on their way here. Mostly, he was just glad that Riesenlied seemed to be doing well. Their adventure to Lolithia's Tomb the other day had gone well, and that she was still up and about today was a good sign, indeed.
He folds his hands behind his back and approaches the mechanical soldier, looking it over for a moment before returning his attention to Riesenlied and Noeline.
"It is..." He confirms with a nod.
"It remains inaaactive...for now...however...I have uncovered some...deeetails...that I felt I should...shaaare with you..." He says.
"To begin...your suspicions were...correct, Miss Noeliiine...the 'Temple of Rejeeection'...it provides not only...pooower...but direeection, to the soldier..." He explains. "Therefore...if I wished to...make it function proooperly...I would need to...proviiide a substituuute..."
He shakes his head, then.
"Saaadly...I do not possess...the reeesources or the...faaacilities...to do so here..." He says.
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Noeline doesn't look about to detach from Riesenlied any time soon, even as talk gets down to business; she snickers instead, tilting her head towards the Veruni in a greeting that, by her standards, is pretty sure to be respect. "That is, at least, one benefit of being built this way - aside from looking cute, of course. A lack of ridiculously bulky disguises is a blessing in the sort of heat we're going to be going into, hm?"
Yes, she actually said that out loud, which is probably a signifier for how much better she's doing in general.
The spy puffs out her cheeks in the direction of the Veruni's first findings, though, her eyebrows up as she considers that. "That is-- a shame. I suppose you could try to find a control unit or something of the sort - but in order for the creature to move around the complex, I would assume it probably has a rather fixed and rigid set of routes, or else a great number of contact points to direct it around safely. Neither of which are going to be particularly useful when transplanted to your lab," she sums up with a frown.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
There's a faint blush of red from Riesenlied's cheeks as Noeline makes it known she's not about to detach herself from her arm, tilting her head as she remarks, "Yes... that does remind me -- will you and Kaguya be all right as we move to the Badlands? Are there special considerations or facilities that we should keep in mind?" A pause. "Given Kaguya's condition, I am rather concerned, even if she makes a show of being tenacious."
She looks towards the soldier for a moment longer. "... not even we have remote soldiers of that kind. An entire facility, with mass amounts of automated drones that centrally link to a command system... it's a formidable piece of technology indeed."
She squints. "Would you give up on resuscitating it then? If you do, perhaps some of its armour or weapons could serve useful...?"
<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.
As it would happen, Ambrosius liked his choice of disguise...even if it wasn't always the most practical one. Mostly, it concealed his arms, which were...a little on the overly long side.
He nods toward Noeline.
"Iiindeed...something more...autooonomous would be...optimal..." He agrees with a nod, then a glance toward Riesenlied.
"However...I have not...given up on it... My plans are...merely delaaayed..." He says this with a nod.
"As for...Miss Kaguuuya and myself...will we...only require...the usual consideraaations...you would expeeect..." He replies. Perhaps a bit more for Kaguya...
"Iiindeed...I am...admittedly...somewhat conceeerned...as to how she will...haaandle the enviiironments...of the Badlaaands..."
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
"Formidable, certainly, but-- also quite brittle, don't you think? If it is so reliant on a central point, it isn't quite as autonomous as it would like to be, and does rather imply a central point of failure," the spy muses as she tilts her head, stepping up to the mechanical creature to lean over and take a peek at it. "Here I was hoping it might give us some clues as to the structure of the golems - that might at least still be true mechanically, I suppose, if not operationally."
At talk of Kaguya, she huffs in a way that might possibly be slightly fond. "... well... as I understand it, she is only wishing to do as she pleases in her last days, yes?" she comments without a great deal of humour, considering those words even as she says them before letting out a sigh. "I suppose, in the end, that it would be best to respect that wish - potential hardship and all, she seems the sort to bristle at special treatment, does she not?"
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied places a hand on her cheek with a quiet sigh in turn. "... I have had thoughts of plans." She squints and thinks for a moment longer. "After what has happened in Old Petra, I wish to create another village, another home for the Tainted. But it shall be one that is not also plagued with the requirement of being a military base in turn. A place for the wayside."
She glances to one side. "There are many opportunities to provide sustenance in the Badlands -- by nature it is a harsh and unforgiving area, and we have capabilities that are not common to the average person there. After what has happened in Lacour, we are in desperate need to have more local assistance. No matter what our leaders think, we cannot operate as an island."
She gestures faintly with a smile. "If... you would be onboard such a plans, these soldiers may well be wonderful guardians for such a place."
<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.
"Indeed..." Ambrosius agrees with a nod toward Noeline. Her mention of golems, however, does act as a convenient segue to the next thing he had discovered.
"While it will not...help with our...current situaaation...I discooovered somethiiing...fascinating." He says, resting a hand on the mechanical soldier's head. "These mechaaanical soldiers...the technooology used within...it bears a strong reseeemblance...to Veruuuni technooology...it is like golem technooology...but...refiiined and...miniiiaturized..."
If this was the case...then he had a feeling that he knew who had created those ruins. But, indeed...he would need more information before he could confirm things for sure.
"This does mean, however...that the faaacilities I...would reeequire...would be in Laiiila Belle..." He concludes. In other words, he wouldn't be able to reactivate the soldier for quite some time.
"However, Miss Rieseeenlied...my seeervices as a mechaaanic will be...at your dispooosal...in proviiiding defeeenses... That goal of yours...it is a noooble one..." He bows his head respectfully. He could only hope that this village of Riesenlied's would be left alone.
"As for Miss Kaguuuya...my only wish is...to eeensure...that nothing happens...to shorten the tiiime she has left..." He adds, glancing toward Noeline.
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Noeline's eyebrows slowly raise at that estimation, immediately curious; she snickers softly to herself in some kind of humour, then brings her hand to her mouth to think from behind it. "That is-- rather interesting. Could it be technology that was left behind at some point? Experimental, perhaps? I suppose it also begs the question of who, originally, was rejected from the Temple of Rejection," she seems to enjoy her terribly joke, but lets it go with a shrug of her shoulder and a curious hum.
"If nothing else, you should be put in touch with Kalve. His deterrents certainly worked well enough on our first attempt, and I see no reason why we shouldn't use something similar again - but perhaps augmented, and just a little more obvious, if we are to reveal ourselves to more of an extent," she comments towards Riesenlied, tilting her head in a nod--
--and finishing up with a luxurious sigh. "While I understand the impulse - what if the main thing shortening her time is her own wish to explore? Strictly speaking, I understand she should be cooped up in a facility bed somewhere, but that certainly doesn't seem to be her style."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
"... Veruni technology?" Riesenlied sounds genuinely both surprised and impressed. "I wonder... might that imply that the Temple of Rejection might be an ancient Veruni site -- perhaps from when your people first lived on Filgaia, before your voyage to the stars?" It's all just a guess, but... that seems like it would line up. "... but if that's true, then these warnings may be even older than we expect. 'Lolithia'... I wonder what it is the ancient Veruni encountered..."
There's a quiet sigh, but a firm one.
"... I imagine she would put up quite the fight if you confiend her in bed... and, I think there's many positive benefits to be had from her travelling. From talking and meeting with people, who are sympathetic and positive to her," she comments to Noeline.
<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.
"Yes...that was my belief, as well..." Ambrosius agrees with a nod. It was the only possible explanation...while he was familiar with his peoples' past, there were some things he still didn't know...particularly in regard to certain things.
It was not a chapter of their life they relished looking back upon.
He glances toward Noeline then, and nods.
"Yes...this 'Kalve'...he was reeesponsible for...some of your preeevious defeeenses...I assume...?" He asks. If that was the case, he would definitely be interesting in meeting him...and, if possible, working with him on further defenses. Certainly there were things they could do to improve on each other's work.
It almost seemed scolding, Noeline's comment toward him. He bows his head deferentially.
"Ah...my apologies...allow me to...ameeend my preevious staaatement... I meant only...that she be given what...she needs...to act saaafely...in the harsher enviiironments...of the Badlaaands... I would not dream...of preeeventing her...from traaaveling..." He replies, shaking his head. "Not that I could...stop her, certainly..."
With that said, he veers off to the side of the workshop, where the bags that he usually kept on his person had been set aside. He begins to rummage through one of them, as if looking for something specific.
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
"I suppose there might also be the question of /why/ the Temple rejects those who entered, as well," Noeline comments as she flicks out her hair. "It did not appear to do so equally, after all, and that might offer some kind of indication towards the nature and history of the place - or at least allow us to take a more leisurely walk around it while we investigate, hm?" She pauses, and sags her shoulders slightly as she glances in the direction of her companion. "For instance, if it is a Veruni installation - why would it have affected you so badly?"
It's obviously a thought that twigs at her further, but she shrugs it away, falling back to an easy grin. "That would be Kalve, yes. I suppose you could call him quite the eccentric Metal Demon, but only in the same way that Riese and I are. --do you know," she adds to Riesenlied, her eyes suddenly alight with mischief. "When I went to report some of the events at Old Petra, I found someone in his arms?"
With a bright snicker, and her eyes closed, she then holds up her hands in placation. "Ah, please do not get me wrong. I'm not about to lecture anyone, and I'm certainly not about to stop her. Given my own nature, that would be very hypocritical of me if I didn't let people live how they wished to, hm? Especially if it's for the purpose of living their life how they wish. That's always been something of a guiding principle, for me."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
"I only spoke of it briefly when I came in, but..." Riesenlied pauses. "I was... drawn there -- it was like a voice was calling me to it, but at the same time... it was rebuffing, rejectful. Not... quite hateful, but at the same time, actively attempting to deny me..." She shakes her head. "... I admit I don't know how much of that was my own fits and starts, mind you."
There's a quiet hum. "Is it related to the VR Factor? You said that your people have, in a way, changed considerably since you were last on Filgaia... perhaps the same defense mechanisms have degraded such that they do not recognise you anymore? It is all just theory..."
She's rather willing to chalk that up to her state at the time, after all.
There's a rather pointed look at Noeline as she incriminates Kalve, but kind of... glosses over that. She probably could guess who it is... it wouldn't be surprising at this point in time. "Ah-- are you looking for something?" she asks, tilting her head. "Can I help?"
<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.
"System degradaaation is possible...though I am afraaaid that...if that is the caaase...then we will...not be able to learn much from it..." Ambrosius replies, still rummaging through the bag. He pauses, though, glancing toward Riesenlied.
"A voice...calling you...? Hasn't this...happened before...?" He asks, curious. He had to wonder what it was she was picking up, for her to believe something was calling for her, only for it to shut her out.
He glances toward Noeline then, as she mentions Kalve.
"...Someone...?" He asks, curious. Not a Metal Demon, he was assuming, if she was making a point of it. He then smirks and nods at her next comment.
Well, as long as she was aware of it...
Finally, he finds what he was looking for. He draws from the bag a set of papers. It looked like they'd been in his possession for a while. At least a few months.
"No...but...this may help you." He says, handing them over to her. "I found a...curious taaablet in a...locaaation....colloooquially known as...the 'Hillsiiide Ruins'...written in an...aaancient Veruuuni dialect... I do not think...the alliiies I had with me...recogniiized it...but I did...we had it translaaated..."
This is what had been written by the tablet, though it is noted that the tablet had been damaged and some of it was, therefore, lost to time -
""... mend... mistakes of the past... These three facilities, when complete, will help to slowly stem the damage... the conflagration, our own hubris... life force of the planet, supplemented by our... between these, and our unusual discoveries, the artificial... Filgaia may have a chance to limp on.
"No matter what, we must not let the Ice Queen learn of these facilities, or else everything may..."
"You may noootice...a similar phrase..."
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
Noeline glances once towards Ambrosius, as if to gauge whether he should hear her next question - but they've all come this far, and the spy huffs softly as she picks at her hair, furrowing her brow. "... it could have been due to your situation at the time, I suppose... the only way we might know that for sure is to go back, and I have to admit I don't relish the thought, as useful as it might be. Did it-- feel any different to those other times you've been called?" she adds, with genuine curiosity; she's never had the odd sensation of kinship that Riese does, after all.
The pointed look she gets back from the other woman just results in a pleased snicker, of course, and a light shrug. Whatever she meant, she's willing to let it go--
--especially with such an interesting find in front of her; she accepts the notes with the care of someone who knows how fragile such things can be, sweeping her eyes over it quickly before handing it on to Riesenlied. "Both in Veruni script... how interesting. Who was the 'Ice Queen', then?" she wonders aloud as she hums. "Certainly, the writing is rather furtive in nature, isn't it? Perhaps Filgaia has been dwindling for far longer than any of us previously realised."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
"... it does," Riesenlied admits. "Many times when I visit a Ruin, it is because I hear... faint voices calling to me... from what I believe may be Fossils or other relics... oftentimes, these turn out to be red herrings -- I'm not ashamed to admit that my senses are undeveloped in many ways..."
A pause. "But... it does feel a bit different. And the woman that was with us, Avril... I think I remember that she heard something too. She reacted similarly."
"The Hillside Ruins... we found Fossils there once, long ago," Riesenlied has to muse as she gazes on Ambrosius' translation. "... stem the damage..."
Her eyes widen. "... Lolithia... the Ice Queen," she concludes. "At the very least, that is the moniker assigned to the Golem we retrieved. But... 'mending the mistakes of the past'... 'lifeforce of the planet'... were they attempting to resuscitate Filgaia in some way?"
She bows her head. "... thank you, for sharing this discovery. It is certainly a very significant clue. If we assert that the Temple of Rejection may be one of these three, it may be that there are significantly important machinery that can produce a great impact on the world, for better or for ill..."
<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.
Ambrosius listens, nodding in understanding. So, this wasn't an isolated incident...he was curious as to what caused this, but he figured that might be a bit /too/ much of a personal question to ask.
His question about Kalve went unanswered...he could have pressed the issue, but as Riesenlied doesn't appear to approve of the gossip, he doesn't press that issue either.
Instead, he turns away from them, folding his arms behind his back.
"I...may have...some answers, in that regaaard...as to who the Iiice Queen is..." Ambrosius begins. "It might...take a whiiile...to explain...it may best...to move somewhere more...comfooortable...or...I could explaaain...at another tiiime...in a more...suitable locaaation..."
He decided to leave that up to them.
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
"... about that... I've been wondering who exactly she is. An amnesiac, who gets rejected in the Temple as surely as you do - and who knows a great deal about these 'Original' Mediums, which are something /I/ certainly hadn't heard about until she decided to tell us." If she's grumbling a little, perhaps it's because she's still a little put-out that the answer to her big question of how she could hear the Guardians is, apparently, because she's just got the deluxe version of the tool rather than the baseline. Even if it does leave the question of why exactly Duras Drum hasn't simply smote her for it yet.
"Ah-- of course, the Golem," the twintailed spy nods as Riesenlied sets her straight - but immediately pauses, and frowns. "Is that not a little odd, though? Is the golem really something that would 'learn of their presence' of it's own bat, rather than be directed to it by someone else? I suppose they might simply have been afraid of the force of destruction it could bring to bear, perhaps--"
But her attention wavers in Ambrosius' direction as the Veruni offers more information, and slowly her eyebrows go up in a plain and obvious sort of curiosity. She's called herself a historian, and however much of an playful embellishment that might have been, there's evidently a karnel of truth in there with the way her interest narrows to a point. "I can't say I particularly mind either way, myself," she adds as she looks towards Riesenlied, her eyebrows up. "At the very least, I'd certainly be interested to know what else it might have been. If it is a person, then it certainly is a grandiose title."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
"... I do not myself know," Riesenlied admits to Noeline. "But I do not think she is maliciously minded either... though I could not possibly account for any changes in personality prior to her bout of amnesia." Where Noeline is upset that the answer is not as unique as she would like it to be, however, it's a miracle turned true for Riesenlied -- it's proof enough that the bridge /is/ crossable, and that there isn't an inexorable difference that's rooted in their very core of existence.
She looks towards Ambrosius to say, "We have time. We just came to check up on you, and we don't particularly have anything urgent..."
<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.
Yes, this 'Avril', as they had called her, certainly sounded interesting...he would have to pay her a visit sometime. It seemed that she possessed knowledge the average individual didn't...
Regardless, they both agree to take time to listen to what he has to say.
"Let us go outside, then..." He says, and leads them out. He secures his workshop before leaving, and once outside he takes a seat at the table and gestures for the two of them to take one, as well.
"I would like...to offer a driiink...but perhaaaps...it is best to...hold off..." They would want to remember everything he was about to tell them, after all.
"Regardless..." With that, he launches into his story.
"The Iiice Queen...Loliiithia...it is a name with...signifiiicance...to the Veruni... In tiiimes long paaast...when we still lived on Fiiilgaia...she lead us... From what reeecords say...she was a..." He hesitates a bit, as he tries to decide the best way to word it. ".../Strong/, leader..."
...And everything that might entail, better or worse.
"At the time...there was...another faaaction...of our people...they called themselves...the 'Moderaaates'...they opposed her...and...in desperaaation...caused the calaaamity that...forced us...to flee Fiiilgaia..." He waits a bit to let them digest this, before continuing.
"From what...you have told me...and what I have gaaathered...I believe...there may be a possibiiility...that these faciiilities...may be conneeected...to the Moderaaates...and...that calaaamity..." He says.
"However...it would appear...they failed...to repair the daaamage...they caused..."
<Pose Tracker> Noeline has posed.
"I am certainly not accusing her of anything - she hardly seems dangerous, and in fact the assistance she's offered us is significant," counters Noeline with an amused smile. If she's /honestly/ upset, it's only that the Medium situation has been forced upon her, leaving her with a rather forced hand when it comes to her future amongst the Metal Demons and what her connection to the Guardian is likely to mean when Mother wakes up to say hello.
Following the other Veruni outside, Noeline rather raises an eyebrow at the suggestion that she might forget after a few drinks, sitting down with a huff as she folds her arms. "It isn't as if I can't take a little wine," she grumbles, but falls silent quickly into a focused and curious air. She is, at times like these, a very good listener.
"I... see," she hums to herself afterwards, not saying anything further for a long moment as she digests the information. "And yet... I don't see. According to these scraps of notes, we can perhaps assume that the Moderates were the ones attempting to 'stem the damage', and 'supplement the life force of the planet'." She pauses, and makes something of a face at the Veruni. "With respect - and without wishing to denigrate your history at all - why would your Queen not want this to happen? Or is there an implicit answer in the way you suggest that 'moderates' were in opposition to her?" she huffs without much in the way of humour.
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
Riesenlied steps inside and comforts herself onto one of the chairs, and listens rather intently towards Ambrosius' tale. Her eyes widen for a bit as she's regaled with it -- and she can't but help but express, "This-- Lolithia is also a... person?" Her eyes widen. "Here I have always thought that it referred to the Ancient Golem that we retrieved from the Fairgrounds... or... is there a tenable connection between the two?"
She furrows her brows. "Moderates..." There's a faint breath as she remarks, "... I can't help but draw some connection to what we're here to try to achieve, as opposed to some of our more... radical allies. In a way, our presence here has caused some factionalism to occur amongst the Metal Demons." It's interesting that she would choose that adjective, because she might not know the Radical faction is literally named that.
"Do you know... what happened between the Ice Queen and the Moderates? What calamity befell Filgaia?"
<Pose Tracker> Ambrosius has posed.
"Yes...that is why I am...iiinterested in your Golem... I believe...it is my belief it...may have a conneeection to our hiiistory..." Ambrosius agrees with a nod toward Riesenlied, then chuckles. "Of course...I ceeertainly will...not ask...you to reliiinquish it to us..."
Not like they would even if he asked, of course.
Riesenlied did have a point, though. It was interesting, the parallels between their people. He does smirk slightly when she mentions 'radical allies', but doesn't mention why.
He does, however, shake his head.
"I'm afraaaid that is all I know...past that point...our docuuuments become...murky...they appear to be...baaased more off of theory...than fact..." He explains. "The nature of the calaaamity...whether the conflagraaation...mentioned on the tablet...is literal...or metaphooorical...why the Iiice Queen would oppose the faciiilities...I can give only guesses..."
He shakes his head.
"We do not have...enough informaaation...at this time..."
<Pose Tracker> Riesenlied has posed.
In all honesty, Riesenlied wouldn't have had qualms with at least having the Veruni look at it -- and if Ambrosius so wishes to, she would've approved of it. But there's only so much she can go, and she's not comfortable with it being in the hands of either the Veruni leadership or the Metal Demons... both Volsung and Siegfried are both entranced with a level of hatred she can't say is healthy.
"... still, thank you for your information," she expresses. "It seems like you are in a similar position to us, after all -- we do not know exactly what happened during the Metal Demon Wars of a thousand years ago. So much of it has been filtered through theory and bias..."
There's a rueful frown.
"But I will continue to relay more information to you when I uncover it. That's the least I can do, for how much you've assisted us."
The Ice Queen, a leader of the Veruni... how interesting. Perhaps it was time to speak with that man once more?