>April 11th, 2058
Everyone from the last meet gathers again at the great hall of the fortress of Durgundar.
Shenshi: (smiles wryly) I'm glad everyone was able to make it to this new venue, although this is Durgundar I would like to request the humans to host this event as they were better prepared for it. So if you could please take it from here, Mr. Kaito Nakamura.
Kaito: (confidently) It's an honor to be able to host such a meet in such a place.
I am Kaito Nakamura of the Shinto Vanguard representing humans, and I would like to welcome all of you to this meet for the second time as we were brutally interrupted in our previous session. We had already planned the things to go over in this meet, but we did have some revelations in the days since and made adequate changes. This meet has two primary goals that need to be addressed by everyone here:
1. Exchange of general information - I would insist everyone share knowledge that is considered to be common or well known in your respective worlds. You can still hold on to information that you believe will give you a strategic advantage, but I would hope that all species here get enough to at least leave and live without confusion. Of course, there is no way for us to enforce this—it works purely on trust.
2. Political Standing - Once everyone gets a general idea about how this new world functions, the meeting will pause for an hour for private discussions about your political standing in this new world.
So if everyone's ready, we shall begin. I would first prompt the Elves and Dwarves to give us some insights into Mana.
Shera[fil]:(chuckles) Alright, from what we learnt in the days since the convergence, it seems like mana originated from our world and has not existed for anyone else, so here are some things to know:
*Mana is a sort of energy that is present everywhere and can also be produced within the body; how exactly this energy comes into existence is unknown, but we have developed ways to use and channel said energy.
*The Elves have an aptitude for high mana capacities and therefore can use it in the form of spells, enchantments, curses, binds, etc., as it was displayed by me and the human in the battle against demons.
Can I speak on your behalf too, Shenshi?
Shenshi: (shrugs) Go ahead—you have been here since my forefathers; you know more about us than I do.
Shera[fil]: As you wish. Also, for what he said: Elves and Dwarves have very high lifespans compared to humans; for example, The Emperor Supreme is 227 years old. Continuing:
* The Dwarves aren't gifted with mana capacities but have a brain to compensate for that, and thus they use mana for making weapons, armor, artifacts, and technologies like the mana trains that some of you have used.
* The mana capacities I have been talking about can be measured in mana points (MP). The name was given after the convergence—we used to call it Arcyns. There are tiers classified on the basis of MP.
* Mana can also be used for enhancing physical stats. We are thinking about setting up camps to measure the mana levels of anyone interested across the continents.
* There are also wild beasts born out of mana—we call them Arycnites; you can call them whatever. Mostly, these are hostile and are found in places with high mana density and low living population. They can be killed, although some exhibit otherworldly powers.
* We also have information on this new world. The current layout suggests it formed when worlds collided, or something similar. Here is a map for as far as the Elven Kingdom reaches.
This map includes capitals and cities of species present here, territories of Beastfolk and Dragonsons along with the Human Vanguards. We say it resembles worlds colliding because the relative positions of both the elf and dwarf cities, along with the various human cities, seem to be more or less the same. This is all we can provide from both the Elves and the Dwarves.
Shenshi: I would like to add something. To account for the sudden transposition of everyone's territories, we are thinking of selling communication devices that operate on mana to ensure connection between everyone post-convergence.
Kaito: That is quite some information and generous offers from both sides. We will get back to the offers, but for now, who would like to continue?
Nyrel:(in a whisper) Can I speak, Rakaal?
Rakaal:(gruffly) We don't need to tell anything to anyone.
Nyrel: It isn't the same anymore; we have to adapt, and this benefits us.
Rakaal: I said no.
Kaito: The Beastfolk seem to be arguing, as I already mentioned there is no need to push yourselves.
Nyrel: No, Mr. Kaito, and everyone here, we also would like to make a proposal. We, the Beastfolk, would like to offer a hand in the process of connecting new cities and expanding dwarven and elven tech throughout this new world.
Shenshi: Are you offering labour!?
Nyrel: Precisely! Our men and women are not good at trade or diplomatic relations with other species, so I would say this is the best thing to ensure our people's safety and well-being.
Brignak: (smirking) Then this would be the perfect time to redo our monetary system. That is, we need to make a currency to be the new standard throughout the continent. We Goblins would love to take the necessary actions.
Scaloron: I have no interest in making relations with you imbeciles. We Dragonsons do not bow down to anyone. I expected a bit more action from this meeting, but if this is all it's going to be, I will be taking my leave.
Kaito: (attempting to interject, voice faltering) Mr. Scaloron, but we ar…
Ryuzen: (dryly) Well, that tells us their standing in this new world—I couldn't express it any better if I tried. We can let them leave.
Now then, let me go over some things: the Beastfolk provide manpower, while the Elves share their tech and knowledge and the Dwarves share their mastery and resources. The Goblins have made it pretty clear by proposing a generalized currency for trade, and I would like to offer Human technology and our 10 billion in manpower for printing this currency and managing all things relating to it alongside the Goblins. I would also offer Human numbers for law enforcement or media-awareness kind of things.
But for this, I have a request for someone here—I would like to ask the Master Ogre to bless us Humans with their combat skills to make us better fit for this new world; in return, we offer our brains and numbers to be used at his will.
Zanro: (laughing) Are you sure you want such a deal, son? Doesn't it seem very one-sided, because I was, however, going to open schools for teaching the way of battle across the land.
Ryuzen: There's the catch: as per the deal you can no longer teach the sword to those who are not Humans or Ogres without both parties agreeing. It might still be one-sided, but we have already made our decision.
Zanro: Limiting us from spreading knowledge is such a cruel thing, but I will take the deal. ^there is something about humans or rather this one in particular that is far too intriguing^
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Shera and Ryuzen [telepathy]:
Shera: Ryuzen, it seems like both the beasts and dragons just want to fight it out, even after all this.
Ryuzen: When did I give you permission to peek inside my brain? I had already expected this and have taken the necessary steps.
Shera: I knew you would, but all I wanted to say is not to waste Nyrel as a pawn.
Ryuzen: (smirking) I thought you would ask me about the Ogre deal, but ok.
Shera: Just because I took an interest in you does not mean I fear or even care about humans—what you do doesn't bother me unless it involves me.
Ryuzen: That's oddly relieving. Then I want you to do something so that the Goblins' and Dwarves' relations worsen.
Shera: (mischievously) I would ask why, but I am always happy to toy with Shenshi.
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Ayane and Kaito [in low voice]:
Ayane: Why is he doing that?
Kaito: Doing what? He's just getting what he wants. Ryuzen is the kind of guy whose words preponderate in meetings.
Ayane: No—I know how good he is with his words, but why is he going into the frontlines? I thought he liked to work from the shadows.
Kaito: Oh no, Ryuzen has no problem being in the spotlight; he just hasn't taken an interest in it until now.
Ayane: Hmm, then what changed now?
Kaito: He alone knows.
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Kaito: Is that all everyone has to say?
Rakaal: (icily) It is, but remember that Nyrel does not stand for the Beastfolk—only the Lynx clan. So if she wants to kneel, she can, along with her clan, but the rest of us are not with her. We shall also take our leave from this stupid meeting.
Ryuzen: (sarcastic) Are you sure you want to follow the Dragonsons' lead like that, Lord Rakaal?
Rakaal: What are you insinuating, Human?
Ryuzen: I mean, Lord Scaloron just left without cooperating in any way or even honoring this meet, and you are about to do the same. For hating each other so much, you sure think similarly.
Rakaal: (snarling) Mind your words, Human. I do not respect this meeting—let alone fear anyone here. Get on my wrong side and I'll take your corpse with me.
Ryuzen: (dryly) All the threatening and no denying what I said, huh.
Nyrel: (firmly) Enough! Don't push your luck. Please, don't mind his foolishness, Lord Rakaal.
Rakaal: I mind, alright. It's best if you hope that you will never meet me again.
Ryuzen: Oh shit, I was planning on visiting the Beastlands sometime next month—guess I'll have to postpone it.
Rakaal: I sure hope that the arrogance comes from strength and not from stupidity; but if you want to pick a fight so badly, why not? You are always welcome to the Beastlands to challenge me. [walks out]
Ryuzen: ^There's free entry to the Beastlands^
Kaito: Before we move to the second part, why not everyone tell us about some strengths of your race—strengths, not weaknesses. I will start: we humans are great strategists and capitalists, with excellent problem-solving skills and brains big enough to enable us to dominate the planet and conquer the stars.
Shenshi: Very well. We Dwarves are physically strong enough to level mountains, good at mana enhancements, along with gifted engineers and scientists who can create anything out of mana.
Shera[fil]: We are good at everything; an elf that can't do something even after giving their best is not an elf. We are also knowledge hoarders, meaning that there is nothing that happened that we don't know of, at least in our old world.
Brignak: We goblins show insane physical strength along with brains adept at diplomatic and financial matters. We can make a profit out of anything.
Zanro: We ogres are completely different from the ones in human fiction. We love peace and are great at fighting styles—like how I am exceptional at the sword; there are many other skills that rival or even exceed my competence. It seems like we are also the wisest among the bunch.
Morzag: We Orcs are like a mixture of humans, goblins, and ogres. But only the good parts—you will be witnessing our potential in the near future, so fret not.
Nyrel: We don't exactly know our strengths. Since the dawn of time, we have been at war with the Dragonsons and are now so distanced from normal living. We are good at fighting, but it isn't like the humans—we can't exactly strategize, nor like the Elves or Dwarves, as we have no exceptional powers, and unlike the Ogres, we have not developed fighting styles.
Ryuzen: Although I very much like the free intel on all your weaknesses, I will ask you to stop—unless you want to dig a grave for your entire race.
Zanro: (laughs) Hahaha, nice one, kid. I might even make you my apprentice.
Ryuzen: It would be an honor, but I have other matters at hand right now. I will surely remember the offer.
Kaito: With that, everyone may leave for 1 hour and we shall move on to part 2.
1hr later
Kaito: Looks like everyone is back. Now then, with all the information, how would each of you like to move forward?
Elves: We would like to expand trade and knowledge. We have no interest in conquest.
Shenshi: Same here—we will help the world grow along with it.
Brignak: We are no war mongrels; as I already said, we would like to make and upkeep a new monetary system along with the humans.
Zanro: I will be honoring our deal, Mr. Ryuzen, but I still have to think of what to make you do to hold your end of the bargain.
Morzag: We have our own plans, but as already said, although they will be grand, I mean no harm for the most part.
Nyrel: I can't speak on behalf of the Beastfolk, but I will uphold my words. As for Lord Rakaal and Scaloron, I would guess they will go back to fighting and may even use the new world for their advantage.
Ryuzen: Don't worry—we will see what we can do; but if you are worried about your safety, then we can make a place for the Lynx clan.
Kaito: If everyone here is really true to their words, then there is something we would like to share. Dr. Ayane, please continue.
Ayane: (flatly) I will get straight to the point. As some of you may have already suspected, the map shown earlier by the Elves is not the whole world—and we aren't the only intelligent species on this world. We still aren't sure how big the world actually is, and the terrain gets too hard to navigate past the map's boundaries, but we estimate this to be about 5% of the true size of the new world. As for the number of species as advanced as us, we estimate there to be at least 20 more.
Morzag: (in a tense tone) That's quite concerning; why did you wait until now to reveal it?
Ayane: We wouldn't want potential enemies to have such information now, do we?
Morzag: True, true.
Brignak: Well, that changes quite some things for the monetary system we planned.
Ryuzen: It will be hard to make a system that can accommodate an unknown number of new things and people, but I am sure we can figure it out.
Zanro: ^ From their reactions to that information, I can say a few things: the Elves and Dwarves already knew it—meaning they are in some kind of alliance. Whatever Morzag planned, it sure hit a wall with that information, and Ryuzen seems to know more than even the other humans. Is he a spy from some other, more advanced species? ^
Kaito: Well then, if no one has any more talking points, the meeting is adjourned.