2019-06-27: Aid Caravan
- Log: Aid Caravan
- Cast: Jacqueline Barber, Catenna, Tesni Inoue
- Where: Rin's Trading Post
- Date: June 27, 2019
- Summary: Jay and Catenna make their plans to aid Luca even as Althena's Guard begin their invasion.
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
Jacqueline had been in the main room of Rin's Trading Post when she got the news. She knew something was about to go down - she had been keeping an ear to the travel sphere, touching base with some merchants she had made connections with and listening to their reports.
That was when she heard about what happened to Luca - about the massive machina that had broken through the walls.
She stepped away from the sphere, then, returning to the Carakin in a daze. She sat down for a good few minutes...and then, after finding some writing materials, sat down at the table and began to write a note - the note that would soon enough find its way onto the Carakin's noteboard.
<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.
Something's going to go down, no doubt - but Catenna has been doing her level best to keep out of the budding conflict between Althena's servants and the administration of Yevon. This is a feud between two religions that have no time for her. To wade into a feud between them would be foolish and useless.
When Jacqueline posted her note, however, Catenna read it intently.
"You find some way to take a kind approach to things as always, Jacqueline."
The Moon Shaman moves around the table with a quiet smile on her face. She's in the rather brief outfit she's been wearing a lot on Spira, the Owlet riding atop her head and watching Jay curiously. Catenna herself sets a plate of cinnamon-dusted pastry crisps down on the table before folding her arms beneath the curve of her chest, considering with a moue of lips.
"The conflict between these two religions... nothing good can come of it. I worry that Kaguya is involved, mind. And for the innocent."
<Pose Tracker> Tesni Inoue has posed.
Tess has been very quiet on this trip to Lunar other than adopting some Albhed fashion to deal with the heat, it was clear with the humidity was just destroying Tesnei most of the time? The large machina was troubling it sounded almost like a Gear really to her as she knew them. The religious warfare was troubling but with the contamination given the hardware that was getting involved had Tess in an odd frame of mind and in a way she looked old, a weight seemed to be about her as she went to catch up with the rest she's listening to Catenna for a moment then to Jay.
"They hate each other more than they love their sons and daughters."
It had taken thousands of years and first contact with alien races to her people to simmer down on many issues. There was a look in Tesse eye that seemed old weight of something on her about the going ones with this conflict.
"I will be going to help with the evac efforts but I also fear they won't stop just with taking the place over."
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
Jacqueline wasn't sure where everyone was at the time, or she would've gathered them up to discuss them with it directly. Thankfully, Catenna happens to be there, and able to read the note.
"Thanks, I try..." Jacqueline replies with a nervous chuckle. She might've sounded confident when she wrote the note...but truth be told, she's a little scared. She knows this could potentially wrap them up in something dangerous. But...well, Catenna's words mirror her own thoughts.
Jacqueline looks down at the plate of pastry crisps and then looks up at Catenna, an obvious question in her eyes.
"...I think, at this point, it's all but guaranteed that Kaguya has something to do with this. With the exception of the Dragonship Destiny and Neo-Vane, the Guard doesn't have much in the way of advanced technology that I know of. For them to get machines like that...they'd need a source familiar with them." Jacqueline replies, and then nods.
"Right...I'm worried about them, too. I don't really want to draw the Guard's attention to us more than we already have, but...if they're willing to use that kind of force, people are going to get hurt." She says, then hesitates for a moment. "That's why...I think we should be do what we can to help the civilians."
A move that might end up drawing the attention she had hoped to avoid.
She looks toward Tesni, then.
"...I don't know. But I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to make it all the way to Bevelle." Jacqueline comments with a grim frown.
Bevelle - Yevon's seat of power. What would happen...?
<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.
With a slow rock of her hips, Catenna folds her arms below the curve of her chest, her position shifting slightly. "I don't like the idea of the Veruni being involved with the Guard, but I also have no particular interest in taking sides in someone else's interfaith war. If we need to stop Kaguya, that is one thing. But...."
Saarda-Shanta cocks her head to one side. <She's far too ambitious for her own good, really. I can't imagine that her kind will be any more compatible with the traitor Althena's domain than with Filgaia.>
"Perhaps not," Catenna murmurs, an obscure sadness in her tone.
She brushes back a lock of hair and nods to Jacqueline simply. "If we can help the innocent, then that is what we should do. We cannot allow families and children to be caught in the middle of this. We do have the power to assist them. We should do so."
<Pose Tracker> Tesni Inoue has posed.
Tesni Inoue look to Jay for a moment listening
"It sounds like it's A Crusade pretty much that is very much possible. If I were to meddle I'd not try to stop the war but sour the alliance with the Veruni. Given my study of history, it's best to not think too deeply about what they are likely to do where they take control. Reducing the human misery I think it the best action we can take right now, I could say put a bullet in a few skulls but I'd just make Marytrs of them. So that act generally would be pointless at best or at worse make things worse."
She notes She seems pretty rattled like this hits close to home somehow.
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
Jacqueline goes quiet a little as Saarda-Shanta comments on the Veruni's compatibility. She doesn't really have a comment for that. ...It is a little sad. But right now...there wasn't anything they could do about that.
She looks toward Tesni then, with a slight frown.
"Unfortunately...even if we wanted to try to sour their relationship, our word is...well, it's a good as mud to the Guard. Trying that would just end up getting us hurt - by them, or by the Veruni if they found out." Jacqueline replies, and then grimaces. "And, um, yes, I really don't want to, um, to kill anyone - so...that idea is completely out of the question regardless."
She does pause for a second, though. She can tell this entire situation is affecting Tesni pretty strongly. Was it something from her past...?
Looking back at Catenna, Jacqueline smiles as she agrees that they should help them. She knew Catenna well enough that she was sure she would say that, but it was still good to hear.
"I feel the same way. For me...it isn't about Althena or Yevon. If the balance of power was different, I'm sure Yevon would be doing the exact same thing - just look at the way they've treated the Al Bhed." Jacqueline says, shaking her head. "For me, it's about the people who will be crushed between them if no one steps in to help them."
Jacqueline shakes her head. It was unfortunate that things had to be that way.
"I'm thinking that the first thing we should do is ensure we've got shelter ready and waiting for them. Evacuating the innocents goes so far if there's no one who can take care of them afterward. As I said in the note, I already have a good spot picked out - it's fairly well protected and it has a good view of the surrounding area." Jacqueline says.
<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.
"I doubt Leo would take my word on anything, truthfully," Catenna says with a tight, bitter little smile. "Considering that I tried to crush his sister and called her a bitch."
Catenna does that in one situation: When someone puts their hands on her man.
Pulling a chair out, the Moon Shaman settles into it, stretching one leg and crossing it over the opposite. She clasps her hands in her lap and exhales slowly. "I suspect there are things about Yevon that are less savoury than they appear. I feel a certain kinship for the Al Bhed in this case. There may be some parallels between them and the Baskar, at least in that both are considered... undesirable by the religious authorities." She grimaces slightly and reaches for a crisp, though she doesn't bite into it.
"I can prepare food for them," she suggests with a quiet smile. "We have sufficient supply that I can manage it, though it may not be especially fancy. But we will need to make clear that we are a neutral party. I do not want Kaguya coming over and kicking down our tent, so to speak."
<Pose Tracker> Tesni Inoue has posed.
Tesni Inoue will not press about her idea when she sees what Jaqueline has to say. Thinks about her own people's history about issues that have flared up in her lifetime as well.
"Oh I don't doubt that Catenna any major religion if it lasts long enough is going to have some people acting in bad faith doing thing their God or Gods would damn well not approve of."
She frowns a bit and tries to get her mind focused on the here and now.
"This is true it would be best to focus on helping who we can though moving in later to liberate items of cultural and historical importance when we helped the folks we can. Would be something we could do. People come first but I'd not put it past the guard to start trying to force their own culture on the people they conquer. Whatever happens, you know I'm in on this till the end, I'd be utterly alone in the world if not for all of you taking me in."
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
"That does tend to burn a few bridges..." Jacqueline comments with an awkward chuckle. At this point, the only thing they could do was try to find the humor in the situation.
She watches as Catenna comments on Yevon, and nods.
"Probably...they were pretty quick to turn on the Crusaders when things didn't work out." Jacqueline replies with a grim nod, and goes quiet for a moment as she mentions the parallels between the Al Bhed and the Baskar. The two peoples had very different beliefs...but in some ways, there were quite a few similarities.
She looks toward Tesni, then.
"We just have to look toward their actions in Adlehyde and the other parts Filgaia to see that. They were pretty quick to move in and try to make people follow their rules. I guess, considering that, what happened here shouldn't be a surprise..." Jacqueline says, with a bit of a grimace. As her hometown, Adlehyde was a bit of a sore spot for her. Sure, she owed them for helping out after the invasion, but she didn't agree with everything they did.
Catenna reaches for a crisp. Jacqueline waits until she's taken one before taking one for herself.
She smiles, then, as Catenna agrees to prepare food for them.
"I knew I could count on you." She says with a bright smile. "I'll see if I can't arrange something with merchants elsewhere to make things a little easier on us, too."
She nods, then, as Catenna warns her about making sure that they're neutral.
"Right...I'd like to think she'd leave us alone if we weren't interfering, but...we'll want to move carefully." She agrees.
<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.
Catenna curls her lips a little at the mention of the Crusaders' betrayal. She lets out a slow breath and lowers her eyes to her lap, silent for a long moment.
"It's often so," she says in a more subdued tone. "Those in power are quick to betray those who they view as mere weapons. And yet... what do they have left against the Guard without their weapons?"
When she looks up again, the Moon Shaman exhales and leans back in her seat, pausing to take a bite of her crisp. It's thin, crunchy and pleasantly sweet, but not cloying.
"Help would be useful. I would like to go into Luca and see if we can get some of the more vulnerable citizens to safety. There are no doubt elders and children who have been caught up in this, unable to escape due to the suddenness of the Althenian attack. Someone must do something to help them."
From atop Catenna's head, Saarda-Shanta flutters her wings a bit before settling. <I wonder if this continent always degenerates into a mess after encounters with Obsession.>
<Pose Tracker> Tesni Inoue has posed.
Tesni Inoue says "Aye, so we do what we have to do. My face isn't too well known so it wouldn't take much maybe some good hair dye and a few other things."
She thinks for a moment and nods. "We'd want to hit up Arleph too to help out with this I think he could bring some good thing to the table on it. I'll do what I can myself and if you are going into town Catenna I'd be glad to work with you."
"Still doing something in the face of this takes a lot of courage. It's easier for most to try and keep out of the flow of current events."
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
Jacqueline nods quietly as Catenna agrees about the way the Crusaders were betrayed. It was an unfortunate truth. It wouldn't be the first time, nor the left.
She's quiet for a moment, and then nods when Catenna mentions going into Luca.
"Good idea. I'll probably be heading there, myself. ...Though when I do, it'll probably be in disguise. If they see me there, they might...overreact." Jacqueline replies. She didn't want innocents getting caught up in the fight that would doubtlessly occur if she were seen.
She goes quiet, then, as Saarda-Shanta ponders about Obsession.
"...Probably." Jacqueline says reluctantly. "When you're faced with a force greater than yourselves, and the only thing you can do is wait for a single person to try and solve it... Tensions probably rise pretty quickly."
She looks toward Tesni.
"Well... I don't know if I'd call 'it courage'. It's just...when there are people in need of help and I know I'm able to do something about it...I just can't sit still, you know...?" She replies, massaging the back of her neck.
<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.
The Owlet ducks her head with a visible shudder, a fluffing of feathers that settle after a few seconds. <I cannot blame anyone for reacting so. Obsession should not be alive. I truly wish it were otherwise.>
Quiet, Catenna folds her hands, then bows her head, letting the Owlet slide down to settle in her fingers. She breathes a simple sigh, not saying anything at first.
"I think I can move around a little more freely," she probably muses. "I look a little more Spiran than most of us. I think I can pass for a local convicingly."
When she looks up again, she smiles at Jay simply, though there's a tightness to her expression. "We should begin getting our preparations in order very quickly. This is likely to escalate rapidly, and for the sake of the innocent, we cannot afford to be surprised, or overwhelmed."
<Pose Tracker> Tesni Inoue has posed.
Tesni Inoue laughs. "That is true, I am pretty much pale as a sheet. I'd stick out pretty bad."
She says this in good humour though and she nods once in agreement with Catenna.
"Aye the longer we take to get going the worse things could get for people."
She'll look at Jay.
"As you say, and lets get to work shall wse time is awasting."
<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.
Jacqueline nods in agreement. Things would be better without Sin around - no good could come from such a creature.
"Good idea." Jacqueline says, with a nod of agreement toward Catenna. Catenna had always been better at that - she had been the one to pick out her outfits, after all.
And then, with a nod toward Catenna and Tesni both, Jacqueline stands up.
"You're probably right. We don't know how much time we have, and we don't want to waste a second more than we have to." She says...
...But she does take another crisp first. They're very good.