Chapter 13 – Fraying Chords
Butchers Meeting Hall - 3:33 pm, Date 123, 516 P.A.
“Today we have called the emergency council in light of revelations brought to us by the fifth son of house Delltronious, Lix. Who has taken it upon himself to wear the Butchered Crown and mobilize our forces, Lix Delltronious you may now enter.”
He enters from the back of the room, he is clad from the neck down in a sleek and rounded plate armor of painted red metal and black polymers beneath glowing a reddish silver with veins of Ichor based psionic combat drugs running along the entire suit connected to round device on his back plate hidden beneath his rifle and Fizz’s spear strapped to him with red leather, around his waist sits large pouches containing ammunition and other utility's. Upon his head sits the jagged and blood stained ring of scrap metal known as the Butchered Crown.
Sen speaks from a raised podium on the other side of the room “Contained within this council are the leaders of the 13 other houses with house Makoka, Oris, Breen, and, Hakkai having substitute representatives”
Lix slowly walks past, long stone table seating the diverse council trying to ignore their piercing stares.
“Additionally on our council has the following outside representatives, Security and Relations Manager Fira Skell representing Xenen Psychotronics, Visonary Empra Smith Representing the Temple of Forever Made, and Major Briggadine Souza Representing The Order Of Bylan”
Matching Lixs every step His Executioner hangs over him only a couple feet away, he nods to Officer green standing at the large ornate door way at the opposite end of the room.
“Finally in observance are 33 Veteran butchers of the 14 houses, 12 Vetren Butchers of no house, 22 Vetrens of the butchers support corp, 3 Enforcer Officers and finally the 13 other house masters.”
Lix smiles at some of his family including Hait waving at him from the corner of the stands that line the walls of the chamber as he takes his place behind the podium.
“We now begin this emergency council with the current situation as we know it, some time around 5pm the automated mining facility known as SigmaDig reported a security breach and subsequently exploded, there where multiple reported deaths in the incident including groups belonging to, Lix Delltronious, Clair Green, and the currently not present Jack The Magpie”
someone coughs
“Official reports state that the incident was a robbery gone sour, however accounts from Lix, evidence brought by Officer Green, and preliminary internal investigations have reported foul play by TC3 and have declared the Promise broken, Lix Delltronious wearer of the Butchered Crown you may state your case to the council.” with that Sen steps down from the podium and Lix promptly takes his place.
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The council was made of all types of humans wearing their own colorful and customized armors, each looking at Lix with a icy glare, all but the masked representative of Makoka and the woman at the end of the table belonging to the temple, She had a terrifying smile.
Lix takes a deep breath and begins “I stand before you all in the shadow of my father, I know many of you think very little of me for my behavior on the field, let it be known that Ive grown much as a person in these centurys and am more then able to lead the houses into this coming conflict. Ive already set into motion the basic steps of our victory, and with the help of Jack the Magpie we are opening communication to the powers of Haldwake. To effecti-” Lix is cut off by the leader of house Vingreed a tall and stocky man in an ornate suit of silver and dark green armor, only their face showing underneath a robust looking helmet
“There is little doubt of your ability to fill the seat Lix or to the claims of TC3s betrayal. Vingreed has been prepared for this eventuality, there is much doubt however to the scale of the problem, this seems like it could easily be solved with internal investigation and the co-operation of but a few of the houses.”
“ofcou-” Lix tries to respond but is cut off once more by The leader of House Malivious a short man who is covered head to toe in thick blood stained linen robes
“Additionally it cannot be understated the cost of these wartime measures, do-”
“QUIET” Lix shouts “Im happy to address concerns but you will allow me to address them, do not forget the authority this station gives Jizu Malivious.”
Malivious sighs “Very well”
“Ofcourse the problem could be understated and ofcourse there is cost to these measures most of which my house will readily absorb, but in the very best case this country is being subverted and anything other then an immediate and crushing response leaves us at risk of unfathomable losses.” Lix sighs looking at the council ahead of him their demeanor now more relaxed “Now any more questions before we get to my plan of action?”
“Yes actually.” The Substitute from Hakkai speaks up, he is wearing the red butchers coat over a plain steel battle suit, his bald head covered in occult markings
“Id like to hear what the outsiders know about the situation, especially from you Fira, your company is based out of Gaia's Promise is it not?”
Fira Skell apparently bored until this point snaps to attention hearing her name, she wears a very professional looking suit of a bygone era with body armor clearly visible under her tie, brushing her braided red the the side she smiles and responds
“Officially yes it is, however in recent years we have been targeted by foreign assassins and have moved all management staff to a confidential location, we still have employees in Gaia's but they have reported nothing out of the ordinary since we evacuated”
Major Souza, representing Crimsons Souls southern ally and wearing a dress uniform under strap on pieces of armor and a kettle helmet speaks up.
“We recently also had an assassination on one of our diplomats in Gaia's promise, but we have a very good idea of who did it.” he says shooting a glare at Empra Smith who simply smiles back.
The room is silent for a few seconds before Lix speaks once more “Why have neither of your organizations shared this information with us before? Who was involved?”
“We Bel-” Souza doesn’t get another word out as the hand of Empra is pierced into the side of his head.
“You should just die already Lix Delltronious” the body of Souza falls to the ground with a thud as at least 20 guns are pointed at the Temples Vassal “This was such a clean takeover till now, but no matter Ive already won.”
There was nothing left of her to hit the ground when the smoke of gunfire cleared, yet around them crashed a sound like a great hammer of long forgotten gods falling upon them, the war had begun.