<div class="floatleft">(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EWE6P0qUMAQQMih.jpg)</div><br/>Harpies, for some reason. Alwyn was long used to interacting with nonhuman species of all kinds. She had helped everyone she could well before joining the alliance to improve her beloved city. And now, unusual beings were coming out of the metaphorical woodworking to join her cause.<br/><br/>But even the mage was baffled when a tangle of harpies flew down to talk to her. After working her way through the insults, filthy language, and everyone talking over each other, she realized that the bird women were asking for help. Several consultations and grooming sessions later, the personal matter that was too delicate to be addressed directly was fixed, and Alwyn had a new group of followers. When bathed weekly, the price the mage charged for her help, the bird women didn't even smell all that bad. Well, you got used to it. Some of the Humans Whom... Species Are Neat women had already begun giving makeup tips. They were just like that.<br/><br/><hr/><hr/><br/>Alwyn, once again in her swimsuity outfit, painted by her goblin allies and friends, Meiri and Neiri (Who had taken great delight in adding a giant turtle to the artwork, much to Alwyn's chagrin) sat across the table from Sergeant Jacqueline Roux. The mage had brought food, simple but well made, filling and nutritious. It would keep a busy guard on her feet all day. And of course the coffee was strong enough that Morticia the necromancer might be interested.<br/><br/>"Thank you for agreeing to meet me... I know this topic is hard. Shanira is a guard, after all. I understand the bonds that can create. You all work hard to keep a rather insane city safe from, well... Everything. Itself even. It's a weird place. Anyway."<br/><br/>Taking a deep breath, she adjusted her glasses and looked directly at her companion, someone allied to a woman she had been helped by and worked with before."I'm afraid Shanira has lost her way. Bringing order to the city is vital, but not at the expense of freedoms and especially lives. I regret that people chose to use violence on the docks in their struggle for control. Your peacekeeping work is invaluable, priceless. My alliance is committed to peaceful improvement of the city. We are building, creating, helping.<br/><br/>Shanira.... Unfortunately, I think she has allied herself with someone only interested in her own power. Freya preaches a good story, but what has she truly done to help anyone? Has she helped people and not expected devotion in return? Is she building a religion or a cult? A movement for the people or an army? "<br/><br/>Hesitating, she looked at her cup, frowning. "So shortly after the fighting on the docks, there was a massacre of Nile's people... There is evidence Saurus was the perpetrator... And there are strong hints  he is attached to Freya. It can not be a coincidence that Saurus has attacked my helper orbs, so critical in the destruction of the grimoire, and murdered supporters of Niles. Saurus isn't canny enough to use violence for political means. Freya.... I wonder what she would do for power. What things she would balk at doing.<br/><br/>You know who we are. What we build... Homes for turtles, aqueducts, freedom from dark magic... Safety. Opportunity. Peace.<br/><br/>You can join us. Support something without reservation. No late night conversations with yourself about if you are on the right side. Help us build a better future for our city."<br/><br/>And the mage held out a slender hand.