<JETMODE> *A couple of days after Genoa has woken from her dragon-induced stupor, Pacheco has called a small meeting together to discuss their options before the upcoming council meeting. He is very weary and somewhat tense, getting as much information as he can before moving on to actions they could take.

<JETMODE> <Pacheco> How are repairs going? And the injured?

<TIAMAT> *Teal shifts very slightly, also tense. "Casualties were great, as you know...though most of the debris in and around the stadium has been cleared away now, and Tempo's got most of the survivors stabilized. The damage was extensive, however, and it's going to take some time to fully repair everything. The roof is our greatest concern, at the moment."

<TIAMAT> *Charity leans easily back in her chair a bit, stretching silently.

<JETMODE> *Pacheco nods. "Is the damage to the lower floors stable, at least?"

<TIAMAT> *Teal: As stable as they can get, for the time being -- the repairs will hold well enough until rebuilding can really get underway.

<JETMODE> <Pacheco> *wearily* All right. And the girl?

<TIAMAT> *Teal, darkly: In solitary since she awoke two days ago, and under constant guard. She isn't going anywhere.

<TIAMAT> *Charity snorts quietly.

<JETMODE> <Pacheco> *waves a hand* Obviously. But you've spoken to her?

<TIAMAT> *Teal nods sharply. "Earlier today, in fact. She openly admits to summoning the dragon -- its name is Jajara -- not that she could've denied it if she tried. *Charity snorts again, and Teal pauses briefly before continuing. "She claims to have not used true necromancy to call him, however -- he wasn't truly dead, therefore she couldn't raise him. She simply awoke him from his slumber, and summoned him to her."

<TIAMAT> *Charity straightens a little, nodding absently. "This is correct. The Great Dragon Jajara was never killed, simply sealed -- or supposedly sealed -- over a millennium ago. The seal, as legend goes, was supposed to keep him from ever waking again ... *blandly* but apparently, the legend is inaccurate, at least as far as that is concerned."

<TIAMAT> *Teal, quietly: Or something happened to the seal.

<JETMODE> <Pacheco> *listens, then frowns* Well, excellent. Pity we didn't know about him before he tore the roof off.

<TIAMAT> *Teal looks faintly disgusted, but Charity smiles a bit. "It would have been foolish for even you or I, Cardinal, to attempt to summon him -- his power is far greater than anything this Arena has ever seen, or anyone within it could hope to control. She is lucky she to still be alive."

<JETMODE> <Pacheco> *frowns* Really. *glances at Teal, then at Charity* So why IS she alive?

<TIAMAT> *Teal: An excellent question--

<TIAMAT> *Charity glances at him, then back at Pacheco. "We cannot slay her."

<TIAMAT> *Teal arches an eyebrow at her, looking rather appalled. "You can't be serious--"

<JETMODE> <Pacheco> *frowns* Why not? It's an appropriate punishment.

<TIAMAT> *Charity nods, ignoring Teal for the moment. "I agree, Cardinal, it is. But it would be most unwise to dismiss her so easily, even after the destruction she is responsible for. *slight pause* The basic laws of necromancy state that so long as a necromancer lives, his charges are bound to and by him, whether it be intentional or not -- that is, the necromancer can limit the undead's power, and the undead must serve the necromancer.

<TIAMAT> *Charity: Admittedly, the summoning spell Genoa Rivermarch used is not exactly the same as a true necromancy spell, and the ... finer details may not be present in this situation, but the same basic rule still applies: the charge is bound to and by the necromancer as long as she lives.

<TIAMAT> *Charity: Killing Rivermarch would allow Jajara to break away completely from the hold she has over him, little as that hold may be, and as you saw, he is quite powerful enough in his current state without being returned to full power.

<TIAMAT> *Teal stares at her, something between disgust and anger playing on his features.

<JETMODE> <Pacheco> Devan, calm yourself. She's only stating fact. If we can't execute her, we'll just keep her in jail until something can be done.

<TIAMAT> *Teal scowls. "Very well! If that's what is best..."

<TIAMAT> *Charity nods calmly. "I believe, for the moment, it is. As the Cardinal said, at least until something else can be done."

<JETMODE> <Pacheco> *sighs* Well ... now that we know that ... the people are clamoring for some kind of justice, but we can't hold an execution ...

<TIAMAT> *Teal rubs his temples slowly. "Start with a year or two in solitary confinement, followed by... *waves a hand* Strict probation. We can always put her back in a cell if she even hints at causing trouble again."

<JETMODE> <Pacheco> *slow nod* We'll keep her under strict supervision whatever the case. Though I doubt that will satisfy the mob.

<TIAMAT> *Charity, a little sharply: It will have to. I assure you, they would be even more displeased if the Great Dragon attacked again, at full strength.

<JETMODE> <Pacheco> *drily* Would you like to be in charge of crowd control at this trial, Charity?

<TIAMAT> *Charity gazes at him darkly, but doesn't reply. Teal sighs faintly. "We'll handle it, David. I've dealt with my fair share of ... over-enthusiastic audiences."

<JETMODE> <Pacheco> *brisk nod* Well, it'll be busy, anyway. Is she behaving, at least?

<TIAMAT> *Teal: For the time being. She's quiet, anyway. Tried to start a food fight with the guard on watch this afternoon, but that's been the worst of it. *pause, murmur* Of course, this is only the first week.

<JETMODE> <Pacheco> *drily* She hasn't tried to blast her way out of the cell, though?

<TIAMAT> *Teal snorts. "No. And if she does, she'll receive a blast herself -- all those cells have been specially sealed with anti-magic containment fields."

<JETMODE> <Pacheco> Indeed. *stands* Well. This isn't going to be fun, but we'd best get on with it.

<TIAMAT> *Teal nods sharply and stands as well. "The sooner we do, the sooner it will be over with, and we can forget about her for a while."

<TIAMAT> *Charity chuckles and stands slowly, stretching lazily. "Genoa Rivermarch will not be easy to forget, I'm afraid."

<JETMODE> <Pacheco> *sigh* At least the furor will die down a bit. Good luck to you both, and I'll see you at the trial. *dry smile*

<TIAMAT> *Charity: It will be the highlight of my month. *She smirks faintly and glides silently out of the room.

<TIAMAT> *Teal watches until she's gone, then echoes Pacheco's sigh, nodding to him slightly. "David." And he follows the vampire out.