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[Sutoratosu Akira]

Yava
Awe and bewilderment took hold of her throughout the spectacle. Truth be told, she had lied about being religious simply to avoid Erina's- er... Katrina's(?) ire. At her heart she was a humanist, and always had been. Growing up digging through trash and stealing to survive didn't exactly impart one with a strong sense of faith in the divine. Being taken in by a closeted revolutionary who herself shunned the notion of religious fervor only further discouraged it. Inheriting the broken dreams she left behind, of a world with no gods and no nation states, where men and women were equals and all people contributed as they were able and took as they needed, was simply the nail in the coffin for how irreligious you could turn out.
    And yet, as she sat there, engulfed in that warm light, it all seemed to melt away. Every doubt. Every bit of heretical philosophy her master had drilled into her before her untimely demise. Like a tidal wave of divine fire, it washed over her, smothered her, and threatened to pull her out to a sea of endless devotion to the being before her.

And then it was gone. And she returned to her senses and visibly shivered. Not in shock and awe, but disgust, fear, and loathing at the insidious undercurrents of it all. Of how close it had felt to outright mind control. How close it had felt to slavery of the very soul. If the goddesses were demonstrably real and active, and they could do this type of thing at will... forget Ambrosia and her illegal forge operation.

What stood in front of her now could well constitute a far greater threat than anything some crime family could concoct.

"S-so..." Yava stammered, still reeling from the implications. She was still shivering but did her best to mask the true reasons why. The last thing she needed was to set off a goddess right now. Especially one already confirmed to be terrifying under certain circumstances. "Stories of goddesses someday descending... they are true. I... never imagined I would see such day. How...why... I have so many questions, do not even know where to begin."

[Takosher]

Yava

Katrina nodded. "That's perfectly understandable. I will do my best to explain, but your role as a Thief makes you immune to the Truth, which will make explaining things difficult.

"To begin, there is no descent. For as long as humanity has existed on this world, so too have we four Stewards. We are constant, persisting even beyond death. We live over and over and over, forever, ad infinitum. We live to play a game for the fate of reality itself. A game that never ends. And you, Keyhole, have been selected to be a piece in this game. You are the weakest piece, a Thief, neither Truth nor Fate supports you. But your weakness is also strength, hiding you from the powers of others.

"I have yet to collect any pieces in this life, I want you to join me. But you are no Knight, your allegiance is not set. It is up to you who you choose to side with."

[GodofGamingRWBY]

Monika

"Hm... Yes, that's true. A shame we left our uniforms back at the other base..." Monika stated, looking down at the civilian clothes she was still in... Specifically glaring down at her skirt as she readjusted it, trying to keep it down as best as possible, "definitely a shame. Ah well, sooner we get this done, the sooner we can get back. Tight schedule and all that" she added, right before stepping out of their observing spot and walking towards the Warehouse in question, with the confidence of someone who seemed like she owned the place... Or at least had a bit of control over it all.

The visible Holy Weapon in her hands probably helped with that image.

[Chevaleresse]

Kirari

"Right. We have very little time, as well." She adjusted her scarf where it sat about her neck; it was strange that something called a "weapon" made such a comfortable garment, and ironic that Kirari of all people was the bearer. The question of how her mysterious "benefactor" had obtained it was perhaps best left unanswered.

She fell into a familiar posture as Monika strode forward and Kirari followed. It was an almost literal hiding in another's shadow, letting Monika draw the attention while she simply existed nearby. It was a good way to look like she belonged, because in a way she did - even if Monika herself did not. "Do you think everything will be as expected?"

[Sutoratosu Akira]

Yava
Wait, she was actually giving her a choice? Well, that was... an unexpected surprise. Perhaps she was just being too anxious, after all that had happened over the past few days. Or maybe not, considering a deity she'd long been agnostic towards had just revealed herself to exist and was laying out a cosmic battle for the fate of reality. Though the way she described it sounded more like a game of chess.

How did she always end up biting off so much more than she could chew? Without even trying, too? She swore she had a knack for getting in over her head sometimes...

"I... I see." Yava finally said, surprisingly straight faced for as on the fence as she still was. "Your offer flatters me, vashe vysochestvo... but before I make decision, I would like to ensure I understand full gravity of situation. This game you describe, do you and... other goddesses play against each other, or another force altogether? As well, what would my role as Thief entail, were I to join your cause? I presume something along lines of subterfuge and espionage given my uh... nature as weakest piece, yis?"

[Takosher]

Monika and Kirari

Confidence proved a great boon, and Monika and Kirari were able to easily cross the compound without being bothered at all. It helped that the guard remained light. The only increase in security of any note was at the shed itself, which had a few armed men stationed outside.

It seemed even larger in person, almost as big as the lot full of vehicles. There were several small doors around the perimeter, as well as a massive sliding double-door on the front. Entering through the latter was definitely a no-go, the mere act of opening it was going to draw eyes, if it were even possible for Monika or Kirari to open at all.

Yava

"This game you describe, do you and... other goddesses play against each other."

Katrina unexpectedly burst from her seat, her eyes alight with hatred and fury. She slammed her hands down on the table with a resounding clap. "There are no other goddesses!" she screeched.

There was a moment of stunned silence before Katrina finally sat back down and composed herself. Still breathing heavily, she continued, "The correct term... is Steward. And yes, we play against one another. We are doomed to squabble amongst ourselves until the master of the game decides to free us." She shot a sidelong glance at the wall, as though the one behind her eternal torment were there.

There is no reply.

"Fine." she muttered, returning her eyes to Yava.

[Sutoratosu Akira]

Yava
Yava's startled form subconsciously raised her hands in defense at the sudden outburst, eyes wide like a deer in headlights. When it became clear that the fiery reaction was not accompanied by well... actual fire, she slowly lowered them back to the table. A cold sweat had broken on her brow, but she made little attempt to hide it.

"O...kay then. Note to self: never refer to them as goddesses again."

"U-understood. Please, forgive me for my ignorance, vashe vysochestvo." She bowed her head in deference as she gave the apology, pushing away the growing temptation to ask about this master. She had no way of gauging just how sore of a subject that might be at the moment, given well... what just happened. And if there was something she couldn't see waiting against that far wall, she didn't want to meet it. "Last few questions then, if you would? What exactly would you have me doing as Thief in your service? And if it would not be too much bother, could you go over mechanics of game? What are Fate and Truth in context to it? What types of pieces beyond Knight and Thief are there, and what are their functions?"

[Takosher]

Yava

Katrina took a moment to ensure she upheld her composure. "You're a thinker, smart. I see why Keyhole sided with Netelle before." she mused, "Well then, I shall explain in full.

"There exists somewhere in this world a physical copy of both Truth and Fate, created at the beginning and end of the game, respectively. The game is won when they are united. The victor is given the ability to alter the Truth, drawing the world slightly closer to the ideal reality that they seek. For the Truth is the lens through which reality itself views the past, just as Fate is how it views the future.

"Victory cannot be achieved alone, and that's where other pieces like you come in.

"The four Stewards are the game's main players. We have several powers that distinguish us from the rest of humanity, but in the context of the game we are a middling piece. We are aware of Fate, which allows us to recognize other pieces. And we hold authority over Truth, allowing us to create new pieces in the form of Knights.

"The Seer is aware of the Truth in some regard and has the power to manipulate Fate.

"The Witch is a piece empowered by a costly transformation, making them very powerful both in and out of combat. The Truth protects them, making them very difficult to kill."

"The Prince is a mighty warrior guided by Fate. They are the most powerful piece, easily capable of dispatching any other in a direct confrontation. However, they tend to be fickle in nature, and convincing even one Prince to ally with you is often a victory condition in its own right.

"The Knight is attached to a specific Steward, there may only be one Knight to each steward at a time. They are a much weaker piece, but they can be transformed by their Steward to gain great power at the cost of their humanity.

"And finally there are Thieves like you. The weakest piece, so abandoned by both Truth and Fate that you defy the authority of other pieces. Effectively, your presence nullifies the game itself. This is a huge asset, allowing you to overcome any other piece if used appropriately. In particular, I suspect there is a very powerful Seer involved this time, and being invisible to her eye makes you extremely useful."

[Sutoratosu Akira]

Yava
Yava listened intently, nodding every so often as she parsed the wealth of information. It was a lot to take in, especially all at once, but she was pretty sure she got the gist of it. The Truth basically embodied the state of reality, everything that is and once was. Fate was the embodiment of future states of reality, everything that could and will someday be. By rewriting the truth, whoever won this great game would in effect be given carte blanche to play historical revisionist, and have whatever change they made actually happen. Terrifying implications there, really... which meant the next question she was about to ask would by far be the most important.

"Hmmm fascinating. Final question before I can make my decision: What is your ideal reality? How would you rewrite Truth, if you won?"

[Takosher]

Yava

"I want to set things right." Katrina said, "I want to put things back to the way they're supposed to be. Since the beginning, that is all I've wanted."

She sounded genuinely sad when she spoke, as though remembering a deep tragedy.

[Sutoratosu Akira]

Yava
She simply sat there, staring at the Steward. Whatever the Thief was thinking, none of it reflected on her face in that moment. There was far more to be asked here, but she knew probing much deeper could prove most unwise. Somethings were simply safer to figure out through deduction. Despite the rather rocky start and the hiccups in this discussion, she was no longer picking up the same insidious vibes that had spooked her earlier. Whatever the Steward meant exactly, Yava could tell that on at least some level she genuinely believed what she was doing was right. Finally, after a long silence, she nodded her head.

"Very well then," She said, "I will join your cause."

[GodofGamingRWBY]

Monika

As the two continued to approach the Neridus shed, Monika took note of the increased security... Or rather, just the fact that of all the places, only a few guards were stationed outside of it. Unless they were purposefully placing security in a decoy spot, the guards gave Monika a good feeling about the speed at which they could get this done. At least, depending on how strict the defenses really were, since if they needed identification to get in... Well, they'd have to resort to bluffing their way in. But with Kirari at her side, Monika didn't worry about that too much. It was very hard for most people to get a proper read on the odd girl.

Regardless, Monika readjusted her course, moving in a straight line towards one of the smaller perimeter doors. Going through the big ones wasn't an option, but with any luck they'd be able to at least get through the smaller ones without much problem.

Astarte

As she moved back with the rest of her troops, Astarte bit back a curse as the Dragon flattened yet another tank. She was already taking too much loses because of this damned thing, and the only two that could actually take it on seemed to be taking their sweet time getting in there. It was simply maddening, the incompetence she had to put up with sometimes. Yet she couldn't do anything about it, aside from waiting for the two Ladies to engage.

[Chevaleresse]

Kirari

She kept pace with Monika quietly as always. In her head, she was running through the likely ways things would go wrong - not out of anxiety, but a simple desire to be prepared. Alongside these considerations came reminders to herself: no self-indulgement, especially not here. Losing because she was trying too hard to enjoy herself was quickly becoming a stale taste indeed. Idly, she scratched down notes on the state of the base nearby; it was plausibly passable as part of an inspection, and could be useful later.

[Takosher]

Monika and Kirari

None of the guards moved any closer to Monika and Kirari as they approached the shed. They were content to chatter amongst themselves without even a glance at the two invading Katrians. There was one obstacle that remained, however: The door was locked. It wouldn't be difficult to break in, but such a display would surely be just as attention-grabbing as any attempt to open the large doors.

Yava

Katrina smiled. "Excellent! Your first task is one I'm sure you'll find agreeable: Ensure Solamon's swift recovery. Though not a piece, she is nonetheless a powerful asset, and I want her on my side." She stood to leave, preparing to abruptly end the conversation. It was easy to guess why: Whatever her plan for Sola, she didn't want Yava to know about it yet. Whether that was simply a lack of trust or something more sinister was impossible to say.

Jessie

Fairy snatched the candy out of the air, her expression turning from stubbornness to anger. "What do you want from me?" she demanded, "You keep following and trying to act nice but you're not. You're sneaky and if you don't tell me now I'm gonna make you."

"Fairy." Lali reminded.

Lunete

The two Katrians emerged from their meeting with Ishma, prompting Shinko and Lunete to cower further behind the trash bin that concealed them. They seemed tense, even without Lunete's eyes on them, something about the meeting hadn't gone well. The fact that they weren't being escorted out, however, meant it hadn't gone wrong enough. Their destination appeared to be the elevator. Although it could take them to any floor, Lunete already knew where Ishma would send them. Room 317, the paperwork room. There wasn't supposed to be anything sensitive in there, sensitive documents were shared in private places, but it was still a lot more information than necessary. Ishma said that trusting Katria was their best way forwards right now, so she planned to give the visitors more or less free reign to explore.

Silvia

Mirala was clearly giving Silvia the cold shoulder as they boarded the elevator. She wouldn't be mad, Mirala was almost never truly angry. But it was obvious that she was disappointed. As the doors closed, she finally acknowledged Silvia.

"What was that?" she asked in a measured tone, carefully avoiding judgement.

[Sutoratosu Akira]

Yava
"You want to turn her into Knight, don't you?"

She refrained from actually voicing the suspicion. Given everything she'd just learned, that was one of the few reasons that would make sense for her to be so interested in someone who wasn't already in the game. Especially a warrior like Sola. Either that or she was going to use her as a sacrificial pawn in some great plan that Yava as a mere mortal and an underdog had no means of comprehending right now. Honestly both might be true, given what she'd mentioned of Knights being able to be made stronger if their Steward transformed them.
    "Very well then," She said, nodding, "I will do that." Ironically enough she actually could do it. Her power couldn't heal herself, at least not directly, but with someone else it was only a matter of time. Even if this meeting had never occurred, she probably would've made the offer to Sola anyway once she got back from the hospital. That of course, however, was secondary to the elephant in the room. But Yava was content to let that elephant sleep for now, lest she be trampled while still unprepared. She remain seated and silent as she watched Katrina go.

"How do I keep ending up in such messes? First I screw up, get drafted into army. Steal holy weapon to help sneak out of army and flee homeland. Come here, almost get tortured by icy bitch, get saved, find actual job. Then I end up exposing criminal conspiracy with illegal forge and meister who is somehow also Esteemed One... and then right after, I am informed I am to be part of game for very fate of reality. I feel somewhere along way I jumped several orders of magnitude from where I started this morning. Hopefully I don't come to regret this decision...we shall see."