Lord Dracosi watched silently as the rest of the ancients entered the hall and took their places, he spared most but the briefest of glances, only the last two truly earned his attention. Lady Alyana and Lisast. He remembered their turnings if only at the most basic of levels, yet he knew very little of them since that time, each had earned their place but neither had any remarkable achievements to make them stand out. He decided then and there that he would put them through the ritual. It had been many centuries since he had done so to one of his ancients and many more since he had done it to a new appointment, but he was intrigued by them and time was also short he had to be sure that they would serve his goals.<br/><br/>When all the ancients had taken their places, their eyes turned to him and he nodded, the only indication he ever gave that they were clear to proceed. As they began their discussion his eyes shifted to the back of the room where Maxis stood in the shadows, he was glad that Maxius had chosen not to disobey his request to attend this meeting, he often did, and while he gave Maxis some latitude in such due to his usefulness failure to do so today would have been a grave mistake. Locking eyes with his assassin he sent his thoughts out across the room to him.<br/><br/>"Your reason for being here will become clear soon enough, for now simply keep silent and remain out of sight" with his message sent he turned his attention back to the arguing currently taking place on the council floor.<br/><br/>"We should attack now!" Lady Tzasahami one of his senior fleet commanders exclaimed "Armana's border defenses are at their weakest point in decades, there is no better time to strike than now."<br/><br/>"You would risk our forces before the rest of our preparations are complete over a highly suspcious intelligence report?!" another voice exclaimed in outrage.<br/><br/>Tzasahami hissed and wheeled on the other voice baring her fangs<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center"><a class="link link--external" href="http://img709.imageshack.us/i/vampireladytzimiscehiss.jpg/" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">
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</a>​</div><br/>"You should leave military matters to those who actually have experience Dania, I do not need lessons in strategy from a glorified accountant!"<br/><br/>Lady Dania did not let the response break her cool demeanor and simply brushed it off with the wave of her hand, well accustomed to Tzashami's outbursts.<br/><br/>"This glorified accountant keeps your ships fueled and armed and your troops supplied with weapons and armor and you would do well to remember it Tzashami"<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center"><div class="bbImageWrapper lazyload js-lbImage" data-lb-caption-extra-html="" data-lb-sidebar-href="" data-single-image="1" data-src="http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/5581/queenbytariq12.jpg" title="queenbytariq12.jpg">
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</div></div><br/>The bickering only escalated from that point and Lord Dracois quickly lost interest his eyes moving to Lady Alyana who sat silently observing the argument. He held his gaze on her for several minutes before moving it to Lisast and doing the same. He was just about to intervene in the argument as it was slowing down the pace of a meeting he already wished finished when it was done for him.<br/><br/>"ENOUGH!" a powerful voice exclaimed followed by a loud boom "This bickering achieves nothing and I have heard enough of the opinions of fools to listen a second longer"<br/><br/>His gaze shifted to Lady Kara, who was now half standing from her place at her table her fist still clenched on its surface from where she had smashed it down. She was as imposing as ever in her black armor, her horned skull helm adding to the frightening visage she already possesed, her other hand was tightly gripping the hilt of her massive greatsword.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center"><div class="bbImageWrapper lazyload js-lbImage" data-lb-caption-extra-html="" data-lb-sidebar-href="" data-single-image="1" data-src="http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/9303/sinnercircle.jpg" title="sinnercircle.jpg">
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</div></div><br/>"The choice on when and where to attack is MINE and mine alone!" she exclaimed "If I desire your input in the future I will ask for it Lady Tzashami, now if we can move on from pointless bickering between imbiciles perhaps we can get to issues that are actually worth my time. I am very interested to hear Director Lisast's report on her syndicate's operations in Scian since she assumed the mantle of leadership."<br/><br/>Second later a nother voice joined the discussion<br/><br/>"I would much like to hear Lady Alyana's report on the rebuilding of the Bloody Hand as well following their near destruction at Caliax" Lady Karina the last of the three first generation Ancients who sat upon the council spoke from her seat between Lady Kara and Daskai<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center"><div class="bbImageWrapper lazyload js-lbImage" data-lb-caption-extra-html="" data-lb-sidebar-href="" data-single-image="1" data-src="http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/4307/karinadraconisthefallen.jpg" title="karinadraconisthefallen.jpg">
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