War Camp, Glacia, Autumn,

[glacial_queen]

Between what Dinah and Momoko had found and the fact that winter was very, very close now, it was time to take serious action. There had been skirmishes up and down Glacia ever since they had fled the capitol, but nothing definitive. Karla still held the north, Hobart the south. And with winter practically breathing down their necks, things were only going to get harder.

That morning's light dusting had melted by the time lunch had ended, but it was still pretty cold out, so Karla called for a conference in the large tent she and Warren shared. It was split; a small sleeping and private are in the back, with plenty of room in the front for a table, multiple braziers, and a mountain of maps. Mulled wine was available for people to drink and warm snacks to eat while they were planning.

Wearily, Karla pushed her hair back from her eyes. Maybe if she concentrated harder, she could make the map show her what she wanted to see.

[For them in Glacia that want to show up]

Comments

[furnaceface]

"I thought staring at those bloody things until I couldn't see straight anymore was my job, luv," Jonothon noted, quietly stepping up to peer down at the map that Karla was trying to focus on. "This one doing any tricks for you yet?"

[glacial_queen]

"No, but I'm hoping that if I stare at it a few more minutes, it will," Karla told him. "If I have my way, I'm going to make it sit up and beg."

Or maybe that was her plans for Hobart. One of those.

[furnaceface]

"Mmmhm. How about telling me what you have in mind with this mess, then?" Jono raised an eyebrow, giving her a wry smile. "Maybe I can throw in my own two cents here, luv."

[glacial_queen]

"Winning all the things forever and then being ushered in on the shoulders of the people who spat at us last time?" Karla offered, not at all helpfully. "Though, I suppose, that's more like my endgame than an actual plan."

[trigons_child]

When there was a momentary lull in the discussions, Raven approached Jono.

"Happy birthday," she said. "Well, yesterday it was. In Fandom time." She liked to keep track, just so there wouldn't be any surprises if she travelled back to the island. Well, other than the usual Fandom surprises.

[furnaceface]

"Was that yesterday?" Jono turned a tired sort of smile toward Raven, something just short of being wry. "I've lost track, I'm afraid. It's been too bloody long since I've really bothered celebrating one."

And maybe he didn't want to admit that, while most of his friends were still being carded at the Devil's Nest, another birthday was going to put him another year closer to being about as old as he felt.

"There doesn't seem to be much to celebrate, these days."

[trigons_child]

"It is all the more reason to celebrate what we can," Raven said. "Though I am afraid I did not have the opportunity to shop for a gift." She gave him a tiny smile. "I am certain I can find someone to make a small cake."

She would, too. Just give her a little time.

[trigons_child]

Raven warmed her hands by a brazier and gratefully accepted a glass of mulled wine. She studied Karla for a moment, then moved closer to lay a hand on her arm.

"When was the last time you slept?" she asked.

[glacial_queen]

"Last night!" Karla protested--only to fold guilty a moment later. "Not for very long, though. Having trouble sleeping."

[trigons_child]

"Let me help you tonight?" Raven said. "I know you are concerned about Glacia and your people, but you must keep your own strength up as well. A rested mind is a clearer mind."

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah had just come back from doing a patrol around the surrounding area; she rubbed her hands in front of the fire. "So. What's new? Or not new?"

[glacial_queen]

"A whole lot of not new," Karla said, glowering a little more at the map. "I'm hoping you and Momoko will be willing to go over what you found again?"

Karla had read their report, but she wasn't sure if anyone else had. Not to mention, hearing it again from the girls directly could only be beneficial.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"No problem," Dinah said agreeably, reaching for a cup of the mulled wine. "Fresh eyes and ears can't hurt. Especially ones more familiar with the area." She took a sip, and said, "Want me to start, or wait on Momoko and other people?"

[heromaniac]

Momoko was going to totally be spoiled by mulled wine. SPOILED! She was moving to sit at the table, goblet in hand, trying to talk the boyos into playing Cradle with her: "But it's to relax!"

And it was, too. Not that she could admit that it was more relaxing to needle the guys about it than actually playing.

[glacial_queen]

"The next person who asks if I need a nap is going to be forced to play with us," Karla muttered to Momoko as she started scooping up the maps that littered the table.

[heromaniac]

Momoko shifted her elbow off the map (JUST THE CORNER, JONO! NO HARM, NO DISRESPECT!) so she could have the one without tugging.

"That's a stupid thing to ask; it's obvious you do." She rolled her eyes, letting her latest victim escape before she could use the apparently legendary 'big eyes' on him. "Has anyone asked if you've eaten?" Momoko reached for another goblet and poured Karla some wine.

[wwiii]

Warren was a little later for the meeting than most, yes, and he looked a little on the tired side as he finally made his way into the tent.

He could think of ways he'd rather have spent his day than trying to reason with landen farmers talking about deserting in the hope of helping their families get through the long winter ahead. He'd seen more than he'd care to admit off with a severance pay of sorts. They wouldn't get any use out of soldiers who didn't want to be there in the first place, after all.

"Any good news on this side of the tent walls? Anybody?"

[glacial_queen]

Karla kissed his cheek. "I love you?"

Did that count?

[wwiii]

"Actually, that's some news that I can get behind," Warren murmured, offering her a ghost of a smile as he wrapped his arms around her waist. "My best guess is that I've managed to convince about a quarter of those talking about deserting to stick around. None of them made that decision lightly in the first place, and their families take top priority, right now."

The Debriefing

[glacial_queen]

"Okay," Karla said, once everyone had arrived and taken a seat around the table. "Dinah and Momoko are going to go over what happened. I know we've all probably heard most of it already, but getting it all at once from their mouths directly can only help. Raven, feel free to chime in at any point, okay?"

She sat back down and nodded to Dinah to go ahead.

Re: The Debriefing

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Soo, you guys probably heard some of this, but... anyway. People were disappearing into the woods from two villages on either side of this forest." Dinah pointed to the spot on the map. "For the last several weeks. Some would come back out, traumatized and certain they were attacked by Arcerian cats. Even without the right kind of wounds. Momoko and I went to the village on the west here, and confirmed the stories, and the number missing from that town, and then headed into the forest, following the most-used path, until we saw areas where the grass and forest had been cut."

[heromaniac]

Momoko nodded. "The cuts appeared to be sword-made and not, like, useful cuts? We followed them further into the woods, encountering a trap that had me seeing a pack of feral, blood soaked cats ready to attack us."

A shrug, as she admitted, "If it had been any one of the villagers running into that trap, I'm sure that their lack of familiarity with the Arcerians and just the general image would have sent them running home."

Strategy and Tactics

[glacial_queen]

"Okay, so it's become blindingly obvious that what we're doing right now is not working," Karla said tiredly, once they'd all heard the story of the Black Widows. "We're losing people, winter is breathing down our necks, and Hobart is still firmly in power in the south. We need ideas and we need them post haste. So, folks," she gestured around the table. "Start talking. Plans, thoughts, ideas, questions, whatever."

[This is kind of a free-for-all. Ping in on one long thread, tho feel free to spin off onto other little side-convos if necessary! Get messy, but no need to wait on me/anyone else, you know?]

Re: Strategy and Tactics

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Discredit Hobart?" Dinah looked thoughtful. "He has to have done more harm than good. Show proof he's an embezzler, and maybe..." SHE looked over at Morton and Karla. "What he did to your parents?"

Re: Strategy and Tactics

[glacial-warlord.livejournal.com]

"If we had proof, we'd've used it by now," Morton said with a sigh. "Sadly, there's nothing to connect him to their deaths. It looked like a very tragic accident, just like he wanted."