As Imara spoke, Orchid turned to the Dynastic Anathema, her bright blue eyes and elegant features focused on the woman, giving her the noble's full attention as she laid out her reasoning. "Very astute deductions, lady Imara." Orchid complemented her with a proud smile, eyes beaming. "Pushing nations to act against others or isolate themselves, or stopping them from rendering aid... such operations would be handled by the Mask's lesser subjects, and overseen by one of his Deathknights. His other high-ranking servants would be busy perpetrating the major criminal acts we've discussed. If you could find the one in charge of those operations, you could interrogate them for the location of their agents and for proof, and arrange for the proper authorities to be contacted. Even here in Nexus there should be some of those operatives, but they should also be all over the River Country."<br/><br/>Orchid then returned to handing out the gifts, at which point two more individuals joined them. Two fair maidens, one with auburn hair and the other with brown hair, both wearing clothing of the purest white, entered the suite. "Ah!" The noblewoman exclaimed happily. "Everyone, meet Karal Segiyu." She said as she strode over to the door, gesturing to the woman with auburn hair and bright green eyes to identify her as Segiyu. Infinite Sky proceeded to explain the situation to the Lookshyan, as Orchid ushered her and her companion inside politely. "Please, lady of Karal, no need to apologize. I am quite happy you were able to join us!" The woman dressed in violet silks smiled widely as she spoke, presenting Segiyu with her gift.<br/><br/>"I could not say who would win the conflict, revered Widow." Orchid responded to the question, turning to the androgynous beauty. "I only know that the war would produce countless casualties and the victor would be vulnerable in the aftermath. I believe the Mask intends to be the one to, as you put it, 'crush them'."<br/><br/>And then Orchid found herself questioned by Infinite Sky. A small semblance of fluster began showing through her otherwise impeccable veneer, her smooth cheeks flushed pink and a bit of breathlessness in her voice. "Ah... I'm afraid my sphere of influence is not so great as to include any direct influence among the nations being assailed. I suppose you could call me a mole." The woman finally confessed, regarding the Twilight apprehensively. "I am very invested in seeing the Mask defeated, dear Sky. I'm not trying to garner any pity from you, but please believe me when I say I have placed myself in no small amount of danger by gathering you all here. I suppose now would be as good a time as any to ask all of you for a favor: whatever you say outside of this room, you've never met me and this meeting never happened. However you found out of the Mask's plan, it was not through me. This is the only thing I would ask you all to do for me personally."<br/><br/>When the ever lovely Fyr piped up with an oddly terrifying observation, Orchid froze.<br/><br/>Then she burst into laughter.<br/><br/>Lovely, sweet laughter that was neither undignified nor raucous, but laughter nonetheless. The noblewoman buckled, holding her stomach as she stifled her laughs down to giggles. A minute or two later, the beauty straightened, her lips still twitching and a strangled giggle occasionally slipping through. "I'm- I'm sorry! Hehehehe... I- ahem- I'm sorry, that just never occurred to me. Yes, I suppose this could be a plan by the Dynasty. I don't believe the Great Houses could coordinate themselves enough for something like this, but I wonder which individual House would? Mnemon or Iselsi. Tepet, perhaps..." Orchid stared off into space, deep in thought as she mulled over the scenario, before snapping back to reality and focus on Fyr. "Well, my dear, I'm afraid I was unprepared for this eventuality, so all I can say to convince you is that you should listen to what people have to say about the new Treaty. Since the Council meeting was first called, those in authority have been talking about stricter terms for trade and commerce cooperation, but not much of military matters or a consolidated nation."<br/><br/>Through the telepathic link, Crow helpfully listed all the information he had on the Mask's deathknights from his time as Walker's spy, as well as the nature of Abyssals, and Orchid beamed at him gratefully. "Thank you, sir Crow, your information is invaluable." She thanked him warmly, eyeing his now burnt hand. "I believe... the Dust and Iron Prince, Black Wolf Howling Under the Moonless Sky and the Lady of Darkness in Bloodstained Robes may be the most likely masterminds behind the minor pushes in the Confederation that Imara spoke of. Tracking down some of their operatives, and then the deathknight in charge themselves, may be a viable course of action."<br/><br/>"Sky is right that Marukan is probably too far away, but Great Forks and Nexus itself have also been affected. But we must not forget that the Mask also has agents embedded in ambassadorial delegations going to the Council meeting. Or they may be the ambassadors themselves. Tracking them all down is impossible before the meeting, especially when we know where they're going to be. Ambassadors will be arriving in Marita a week before the Council of the Concordat meets. You could attempt to sneak into the Palace of Marita to investigate the delegations, or else try to catch them outside of the palace. But maybe your best bet would be to gain entry to the Palace legitimately. That is, if you were part of one of the delegations."<br/><br/>"Greenhaven is a good choice, since the gods that rule it are reputed to be reasonable, kind and well-meaning, and our Most Revered Luminary of Botanicus Noctus-" she tossed a flirty wink at Zain, "can provide his services to help relieve them from their recent crisis. You could conceivably convince the city's rulers to allow you to form part of their delegation."<br/><br/>She strode over to the open bedroom, anyone with an angle to look would see Orchid open a drawer and produce a fine-looking pocket watch wrought of bright iron, though no one could see the face. Emerging from the bedroom, her expression was grave. "I'm sorry, everyone, but my time here is up." She gathered one last gift bag from the chest, and turned to face the group. "I hope you will believe in me as I believe in you, and you will do what you can, and I'll do the same. Whatever happens, I wish for nothing but the best for all of you. Thank you so much." She said by way of farewell, wetness welling up in her eyes as she bowed respectfully to each person, before heading to the door, only to be stopped as she tried to step out.<br/><br/>A gorgeous woman with bright red hair streaked with brown and white, and eyes of piercing brown honey, stood in the doorway, about to step inside when Orchid opened the door. "Ah, lady Howl. I'm glad you could make it." Orchid greeted her warmly, parting to let the newcomer in. "I'm sorry I can't greet you properly, but as I was telling everyone I must be going. You have my apologies, but I'm sure everyone else can fill you in." Then she turned back to the group. "Everyone, this is Night-Rending Howl. Please bring her up to speed and- oh!" Sudden realization hit her, the gorgeous woman's expression brightening innocently as she remembered something. "This suite is paid for the night, so you all can figure out if you want to use it, and who gets it. I know Amber won't tell anything of what little he saw here, because his father doesn't want to know what happened here. But when Ivory's other children come to clean up tomorrow, I hope you'll leave the room in such a way to make sure they get the<em>wrong</em>idea."<br/><br/>With a parting wink, Perfect Orchid of the Starfall stepped outside and closed the door, leaving the group of Exalts (and others) alone, unsupervised, in a room that was paid for the night.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Sky</div><div class="spoiler_body">You detect a half-truth when Orchid tells Widow that she doesn't know who'd win if the Realm and the Scavenger Lands went to war. And when she explains to Fyr why this isn't a plot by the Realm. All is truth other than that, surprisingly.</div></div>