Task Family Meeting

[00:50] Dun Task says, "Now."
[00:50] Dun Task says, "Before I say anything. Each of you, give me a report of what you've done and achieved in these last three years."
[00:58] "Four years, father."

Revan would correct, since that was how long it had been since they were released to their own devices. Revan would look to the ceiling, a bandaged hand grabbing at the collar as he clicked his tongue behind his teeth. He would think of everything he had done up to this point.

"Well.. I was one of the four founders of The Dragon's Tooth.. And we serve as the leaders of it.. I have primarily spent my time with them, however, training and getting stronger.. So that we may have a task force to explore the spirit realms.. And gather important artifacts for.. Your gauntlet."

He would tap his collar twice. "I have also joined a shadow guild.. The details of which can not leave this room.. It is called the Nightbound, but goes colloquially by The Boogeymen. We've taken demons into our ranks.. One I have gained the attention of.. And could perhaps.. Manipulate given time.. The leader, Danica, has taken an interest in me.. And I have bent her ears more than a few times, and I believe I could perhaps use her.. Though my rank is that of a Commander.. There are.. Only four others, including Danica herself, above me.. I don't imagine it will be that hard to supersede them, however."

Another click of his tongue as he thought of one last thing he could really report on. "The Dragon's Tooth has also taken a smaller guild under our wing to train.. My intention is to use them to gather resources for us, make some money.. And groom them for loyalty.. More disposable pawns, than anything.. Aside from.. Training.. And growing stronger.. That is about all.."
(Revan Task)
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[00:59]
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[01:02] Hades takes a seat - sort of. Hovering over the wooden chair with his legs folded criss-cross.

A report on the las three years? It would be hard to summarize.

"I took an internship with Dreamline under Mariaan to learn the drug game and merchant business. Established my own company with Valero and Bea and moved to Osrona, where we took over the market and dominated from that point on. Made around a hundred thousand, including the funds to get the golden anvil that way." He smiles at the golden anvil, remembering Rinn through it.

"Then I joined the Family, gaining the trust of its higher ups. A year later, Yersin handed me the keys to their operation, and all of the supplies and reagents they had. Which only increased our profits across all of Esshar.

Networked with the other prominent merchants and occultists to gain allies, including Illburg, Oz', Myllenoris, and some of the witches. Hel, one of the witches is acting as my informant right now." He bobs his head along as his brothers speak.

It was clear that he took a bit of pride in recalling their adventures. Revan's tale of the Boogeymen catches his attention.

"Val' and I have also been hitting the ground running in search of knowledge and relics. After taking advice from Kofe, we went and got a tome on Riftmancy, an art spawned from Azrael himself and made prominent on Agartha and Barsburg. I'm working to master it now.

We fought the End of Time, a Vampire, a riftmancing shadowwalker that manipulates time, learned the mystery of the Amagios, and... a lot more, honestly. We're sitting pretty, right now."
(Hades Task)
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[01:03] "Let's see..."

Valero hums to himself, as he leans back in his seat, before kicking his feet up onto the table, a content grin resting on his face, as his one good eye flickered around the table.

Studying each member of his family.

On the outside he was as cool as a cucumber, but on the inside? He had no fucking clue what he had done over the years. Of course he's done some stuff, but... For the life of him, he can't recall it.

So he sits in silence, save for the creaking of his chair rocking back, and forth on the wooden floor. Until a few things dawn on him.

"Well, I kicked a Demon's ass. Helped Hades out with a few heists. I fought the western Stellus, Del, and I watched 'em die." There was more he could have said, but for the life of him he couldn't recall anything else of important. "The usual with me. Kicking names, and taking asses."

He pauses.

"Wait... No." For the briefest of moments, Valero's face was the same color, as his hair, but that soon fades. "It's... Kicking asses, and taking names..."

He really messed that one up.

"Oh, and I've pushed my energy far beyond what's humanly possibly." One of his claw-like hands moves towards his eyepatch, going to remove it before halting. His father was blind, and everyone else here had already seen his clockwork eye.

There was literally no point in showing it off.

So, instead his hand moves away from his face, and towards the table, where it he'd use it to stabilize himself. "S'pretty much it. If I've done anything else, it was probably chaotic, and violent."

Such was his nature.
(Valero Task)
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[01:19]
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[01:25] Dun would smile thoughtfully as he listened in to all of his sons efforts, nodding steadily as he tapped his chin with a sense of contentment. It seemed each of his spawn had pursued an ambition of some kind or another, it pleased him greatly after all. This was the way of things, to pursue control of the land.

"Manipulating multiple guilds at once is always a step in the right direction. Continue weaving your way into people's hearts my son, you will require this with certainty in your trials going forward. To own the land is to own its people heart and soul after all."

The elder of the Fireblooded would nod slowly.

"Hades, I am proud of you. You've shown a keen business sense, and found the magic that is multiplying coin from nothing. The realm gate infact required a tome on riftmancy truth be told, the fact that you have such a thing means with certainty that I'll require your aid on the project. You have done well, and in planting seeds in New Osrona, you can ensure in the coming decades that they stand by the Task's side through all conflicts to come."

Dun would at last turn to Valero, the embodiment of chaos at the table.

"Kicking ass and taking names huh? That's my boy, sometimes it's really just that cut and dry. That's the path to truly mastering energy magic, throwing yourself at the grinder and coming out stronger no matter how many bits you lose."

The timeless jester would at last bow his head.

"Now, as to why you're all here...well, I know who killed Yersin, and I know why. I was there."
(Dun Task)
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[01:31] The praise is welcomed, but Dun's words after cause Hades to grimace.

After all of the bloodshed. The murders?

"So it wasn't Nysea, then? People had their doubts. Yersin was too strong to lose to any of their warriors, to be honest." Hades sits back in his chair and frowns some.

"I'm all ears, Pops. What's the fact of the matter?"
(Hades Task)
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[01:33] A sigh of relief would be breathed by the bandaged Task, he knew there was little to show for him the past recent years. However, much like his own form and style that he sought to emulate from their father, it was a slow burn. There was a long fuse set, but it lead to one hel of a powder keg if he could just make sure to fan those flame long enough.

He would nod, taking his father's advice to heart. He knew he had to develop a reputation, one of reliability, and power.. Such would only come in time as he honed his body and soul.

Hades had done very well for himself, and Revan was very impressed with his brother. There was some jealousy when their Father says that he will have to work more directly with him with a riftmancy tome is mentioned.

Though atleast Valero wasn't up to much.. To be expected, really.

Even with his dad's advice to the redhead, Revan would take it to heart. He knew he had to continue pushing himself to grow stronger, and try to claim his spot as the strongest Task.

Though why they were summoned would make him tilt his head. Yersin.. Who was.. The mouse that took care of cleaning up Valero's eye..?..

"Hmm..?"
(Revan Task)
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[01:36] As his siblings spoke, his one eye would drift towards each of them, not offering either of them a compliment. He was with Hades through most of his antics, and more than likely knew how much he valued him.

They were the dynamic duo.

Revan? It would take an awful lot for the youth to compliment his brother.

Then Dun spoke up, and whatever was said towards his other siblings were pushed to the side, as his father complimented him. Which seemed to bring a wide grin to his face, his father had decided to feed his ego more, and more.

Which is always ideal.

"Yup, I'm a total badass, that can't be denied." The teen leaned back just a little bit more in his chair, as his other hand moved to grip the table tightly. He wouldn't be letting go anytime soon.

Though it would be Dun's next words, which prompt him to quirk a brow, as his one good eye rested solely on his father.

"...Listen, even if you say Nysea wasn't at fault for it. I still want to burn that fucking place to the ground, and nothing you say will change that, but..." He pauses. "If you want to add more people to the list of people I need to kill."

It's then that his gaze shifts towards Revan, offering him a wide grin, before his attention shifted back over towards Dun.

"Do tell."
(Valero Task)
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[01:44] Dun would listen in thoughtfully to each of his sons speak up, humming to himself with ambient cheer as he tapped his chin contemplatively. The elder of the Fireblooded listening in to his sons with general grimness as he nodded lightly.

"Before I say any of this, understand that these details do not leave this room. For the importance of any action we can take to avenge Yersin, the perpetrators must never know of any schemes against them."

The timeless jester would gesture idly before himself with his prismatic gauntlet.

"It was the Twilight Coven. They had Nephele gather Yersin and I to discuss why we were found on the opposite side of the battlefield at the comet, and to offer their terms of friendship as it were."

Dun would nod steadily.

"Friendship, of course, meaning they wanted to conquer New Osrona with an army and take it over, and wanted the Family's help in the matter. I saw immediately that my best chance toensure Romani's success was to play along, so I spun a yarn and ended up trusted as their artificer in their new, secret hideout."

The clown would sigh deeply.

"Yersin immediately, of course, snorted some sylv and said he's leaving. Asta and Serea's wraiths charged him, and Asta ended up capturing him. As a last middle finger, he popped himself like a bloody balloon to steal their party."

Dun would nod steadily.

"Needless to say, I have a plan. But tell me what you boys think about all of this. Let me make this clear, the truth must not come out if Nysea is to receive the judgement it deserves."
(Dun Task)
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[01:52] It was heavy.

Hades spends a great deal of time taking in the truth of his mentor's death, arms folding over his chest.

"Nephele works for me, too. Tells me a lot. I went with her to kill Sibylle and get her into the Coven in the first place."

He lets the others speak, looking up at the ceiling with a glazed expression.

"They gotta burn. But with the Void watching us all so closely now? We have to make a show of it. A memory for all of Esshar to burn in their brains for generations to come."

Hands move to rest on the back of his head.

"I'll keep the secret. But we won't be pawns for the Witches. How do they plan to take Osrona now?"
(Hades Task)
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[01:56] There would be more tapping of his mithril collar as he listened to every word that came from the elder Fireblood's mouth. Every word was taken into great account, and absorbed.

"We are family.. I only wish to see us succeed in our goals.. I will not speak of this to anyone."

Revan would say solemnly sworn to secrecy. He had asked them to not share his ties with The Nightbound, as it broke one of their commandments, but this was family. He could trust them, right?

Hearing of his father's connections to the witches, his lips would contort to a faint twisted smile. "You know.. I actually wished to infiltrate the witches myself.. But I sadly haven't been able to find any.. It's why I went to the raid on their ritual.. Simply to learn faces.. See what they are truly capable of."

He'd share with a click of his teeth, hearing how they were the true cause of Yersin's demise. He wasn't close to the man, only having the one interaction from Valero's surgery. Well, what about their take over of Osrona? Bringing punishment onto Nysea? Getting revenge on the Witche's coven, who had attacked his own guild with their demons?

"I'll be frank. I don't give a damn about any kingdom, and I don't care what happens to the witches. Let it all burn. I have a handful who are loyal to me, I simply wish to keep them as mine and explore the realms with them."

A click of his teeth would follow, was he getting heated over this? "Tell me what you need, Father. If you need someone whacked, I will have the Boogeyman handle it.. If you need something brought to you, I will have The Dragon's Tooth deliver it. Simply say the word."
(Revan Task)
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[01:57] Tick....

At most time Valero was, well a ticking tomb boy, and the addition of a literal clock eye had just made that rather literal. He wasn't stable, never had been, never will be.

Which... Would explain what's about to happen.

The moment the news of Yersin's true killers reaches his ears, he fell oddly silent. His grip on the table would be released, as he sat up straight.

He sat there.

Doing nothing.

"I see."

...Tock.

With those two words, all Hel would break loose. Valero's body jolted straight up, as his body erupted with dense violet mana, which prompts in his chair being sent spiraling away from him. As his claw like hands, now entirely enveloped with the mana smashed into the table.

"I'll fucking gut them. Each, and every single fucking one of them." No minced words would be found here. "You say to wait, andI know you're right, I do, I do, I do, I do..."

He hesitates to take a very deep breath, the energy around him fluctuates for a moment. Then another, and another, as he attempted to calm himself down. Lashing out at those here would do him no good.

"I don't care how fucking long it takes, I'm gonna ram their heads onto a pike for Yersin, and parade it around Osrona." He nods content with his words. "But... You're right. Can't rush these things, that'll just lead to my death."

Even though he wanted nothing more than to just rush them right now, but they were right. He needed to be patient. "The secret is safe with me." The energy that enshrouded him faded away, as he took yet another deep breath.

"What's the plan going forward?"

Tick. Tock.
(Valero Task)
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[02:09] Dun would silently, steadily tap his clawed digits against the table as each of his sons spoke, grimacing as he felt the bile at the back of his throat come up with certainty. He'd suppressed so much emotion since Rinn died, hardened himself shut to the outside world.

But for once, he could have some catharsis.

"Good attitudes boys, keep that energy. Right, for us to act properly in the shadows, they can't know we want to avenge Yersin. And I have just the plan and theater fit for our lost companion. One that will go down in history for its sanguinary exultation."

The timeless jester would wave his hand before him with a light nod.

"Their strength lies in their army of mimics, their demon pawns, the actual coven is frankly abysmally tiny. So here's my plan. We're going to get you inside the coven, you're going to spin a yarn like you think their plans are the nines, and you're happy to help."

Dun would nod steadily.

"And from the inside, we're going to turn all the demons and mimics into independent, free thinking minds, encouraging them to realize that they don't work for anyone. And when the time comes, and the opportunity is presented, we're going to murder them inside their own hideout, having been welcomed in as friends and close allies."

Dun would nod steadily.

"And this is why the news of Yersin's true death cannot get out. You must swallow your rage, and Nysea must fall for them to believe the manipulation succeeded. This is the way I see forward, though I am open to suggestions."
(Dun Task)
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[02:16] "So be it."

It was that simple.

Hades rises up to his feet and dusts himself off.

"I have some experience with mimic-like creatures. Symbiotes." He pulls his cloak aside and double taps the Dwarf in the Flask. "If given enough time, I can free their minds. Make them whole."

But for now, he needed air. To breathe, with the news of Yersin's death now evident.

"Valero can catch me up on everything else. See ya soon."
(Hades Task)
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[02:16] Valero takes a rather large breath, as he slowly nods his head along to his father's words. He was still beyond enraged right now, and it showed as wisps of his tainted mana floated around him, as his fists remained firmly clenched.

Yersin would be avenged.

"I wanted to burn Nysea down since my interaction with that cunt Del. So this? This works for me. We'll play it slow, make 'em trust us, and... The moment there's an opening their heads will roll."

"This I swear."

The Mafioso that he looked up to... Would not go unavenged, not as long as he drew breath. Yet, the urge to tell Walter, Misha, and the rest of the family, well it was there, but... It wasn't something he could risk.

"Everything if fine with me, but I have one thing to add."

Valero pauses, as he takes a deep breath.

"I'm almost a man now, and I think it's time I start working towards my birth rite. The mantle of Warlord. I aim to claim it soon."
(Valero Task)
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[02:18] Convince demons... To rise up against the witches?

A twisted, conniving grin would knit it's way across Revan's lips. He loved this plan, and he would get to infiltrate the coven as well? To dig his roots into their hearts and drain them of resources, information, and possibly power? It covered him in goosebumps.

"Talking to demons? I can do so.. I.. Ran into one just a few years ago.. Liraz.. He said I was the first human to try to speak with him.. I learned a lot.. I know how a demon thinks.. I can do this."

He'd reassure his father he was fit for this job. "I've essentially already been cutting my teeth manipulating witch like beings in Danica.." Another nod would follow, "I can do this." He'd reaffirm, he may have just recently learned of emotions, how to control them, but that only made him more dangerous, as now he could use others' emotions against them.


(Revan Task)
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[02:18] Hades Task says, "Also... I've been supplying a few demons for a year or so, now."
[02:18] Hades Task says, "In addition to Nephele. We have an in, if we want it."
[02:28] Dun would steadily nod as he clicked his teeth together, mulling over the matter at hand as he nodded slowly, steadily, nodding in appreciation to the commitment of the boys to this grandious scheme. It would be their introduction into the world with a bang, the shattering of the coven in vengeance for a friend, not for the good of the world.

Because it was personal.

"The title of warlord is all of your birthrights, but you are right Valero. You're almost of age, and with certainty growing strong enough to seize the mantle. Becoming such and making them believe you're their ally will have them eating out of your hand."

The timeless jester would nod firmly, clicking his teeth together.

"And quite so Hades and Revan, from the inside out we will show them the spirit of Theria, of freedom and self determination. Of might makes right. And when the dust clears and they are bloody masses, you boys will have countless allies in those demons and mimics you endear yourselves to."

Dun would nod.

"We must take it slow. I recommend Hades first, he has a natural in with Nephele, and is the smoothest talker of the bunch. Slowly, steadily, from the inside they will be worn away. And we will have our revenge."

(Dun Task)
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[02:29] Dun Task says, "Also that's my boy, arms dealing to demons is how I made half my bread when I was overlord."
[02:29] Dun Task says, "I recommend bonding with a mimic each in particular."
[02:29] Hades Task says, "I'll make an effort to."
[02:29] Hades Task says, "I'll think on all of this and let you know my thoughts."
[02:29] Dun Task says, "Of course."
[02:29] Hades Task says, "For now, good night."
[02:29] Dun Task says, "Now, you boys are dismissed. Sleep well."
[02:29] Dun Task says, "Think on all this."