While this faction within the organization was only one element of the stagnation that crippled the Rune Knights, it was definitively the root cause of it once which Kon planned to tackle head on. Initially he had planned to remain as apolitical as possible with the retrieval, retention and exploration of knowledge being his driving force since the formation of the Collective Mind, but something was always calling back to him. The absence of security in vulnerable locations, the blatant and open-handed corruption that was taking place in large parts of “controlled” territory, the uprisings in the various neighbouring countries, even the relinquishing of northern fiore did not escape his attention. He did not want to harm anyone within the rune knights, let alone a member of the magic council, however his presence would surely prompt a few eyebrows to be raised especially when accompanied by other former rune knight members who each equally held their own grievances towards the organization.
An audience with a council member was rare enough, but to have a meeting with a majority of the High council was something almost entirely unheard of. Perhaps they had recognized their short comings and wanted to resolve things without creating another schism within their organization as prompted by the Holy war only a few years ago. Kon equally did not wish violence to be needed to reform the rune knights, but massive structural changes were needed for true progress to take place within it. If those reforms required the “enforced dismissal of high ranking officials” then so be it.
He had been tasked with unnumeral underhanded missions by the same organization and done countless more since during his time when he was not a member, his hands weren’t exactly clean nor did he mind to dirting them further. Bloodshed would be the least desirable outcome for what was effectively restructuring and leadership spill within a pre-existing organization as expansive as the rune knights. A peaceful introduction of a direct leader would be preferably to mitigate any chaos that might otherwise ensue whether it is from the general public or within the rune knights themselves from people who seeked to benefit from the brief absence of law and order.
Ultimately this affair was exclusively between the rune knights and the collective mind and first and foremost a diplomatic one, only a fool seek to stop the change with the council unable to represent those they swore to protect and the rune knights being less then ineffectual. He certainly held his concerns about the absence of other council members, suspecting many of those missing were likely too enfeebled to arise from their sumbler and would only tarnish the council’s renown with their presence or simply weren’t in the country and lacked a form of thought projection to represent themselves. Perhaps some of them were no longer even alive and the positions were being filled by literal ghosts, only time would tell. For the time being though, he would need to actualy get to the meeting by travelling through the various corridors, hallways and endless rooms that the rune knight headquarters were composed of.
As the headquarters came into view, the floating island began to slow and descend finally landing off to the right side, leaving a trailmark as it tore up the ornate gardens along the way. Only after the construct came to a dead stop that the man moved from his point and withdrew the enhanced key from his side pocket which had caused him so much strife many months ago. Through the mysterious properties of the artificat wielded in his hand, he shifted from the construct to a nearby door within the headquarters in an instant the moment he plunged the otherwise unassuming key into the door from the very rood he had just come from. The presence of the floating island was not to serve as an intimidation tactic, the rune knights had been attacked so many times that it had become mundane rather it was a means to show the seriousness of his actions. Presenting the entire guild before the Rune knights opened them up directly to any repercussions should things turn south.
Now within the hallways, Kon was immediately confronted by familiar faces, albeit worse for wear, wrinkles becoming more pronounced, new scars, artificial augmentations replacing what were limbs that rivalled those of the gods. To many of them, he was just another stranger now concealed behind a mask of black whose face had been contorted into something grotesque. No-one had escaped the merciless touch of time, least of all him. Others that did recognize him mere acknowledged his presence with a curt nod which he gave in turn. Passing through the veterans, a level of anxiety came upon him as he hoped he could gain enough support within the organization despite the deeds he had committed and allowed during his time as the guild master of the Sentinel Syndicate.
Knowing the layout of the building passing through its halls for years, Kon weaved his way across the many rooms, courtyards and corridors that the labyrinthian-esque headquarters consisted of. After walking through the building for almost an hour at this point, he finally came across the room where the meeting would be held. Many of the local officials were outside interacting with one-another while some were already inside. Truly his anxiety was at an all time high as he stood amongst men and women who dominated him both physical and magically, only his wit and sharp sight would pull him through this one. The whole thing did have his alarm bells ringing to suggest it were a trap of some kind especially with how the meeting was organized through a mysterious boscian supporter whom he had yet to meet officially.
Only time would tell what the future would turn out to be with his fate here and now and that of the Rune Knights. The first step of that journey would begin with the the opening of the doors by two guards stationary on either side, demonstrating an immense heft to the entrance. Before him sat just over a dozen officials, half of which were there through thought project while the remainder were empty. Overall he had really only gained the audience of about 13 of the 21 high council for which the chairman was absent for. Something that would arguably work in his favor. Trickling in the various officials quickly piled up in the backrows before the doors were shut preventing anymore from entering or any from leaving.
Last edited by Kon on Tue Aug 29, 2023 5:52 pm; edited 1 time in total