Jarvan loudly cleared his throat and stood. "This meeting is to convey the wishes of my father, the king, and discuss some potential courses of action regarding certain happenings within Valoran." He opened a scroll of parchment and read from its contents. "First order of business: I would like to formally take this time to welcome Shyvana as a Demacian and champion of the League. Your citizenship has been approved." Shyvana lowered her head to the sound of muted clapping, a darker hue of grey coloring her cheeks.

"Wait a moment, prince," said Fiora. Her eyes held a frigidity that made even Jarvan stop. She glared towards Eniah and hissed. "I welcome the dragon, but why is he here?"

"He is here for the same reasons he was in Demacia a few days ago: because he is an honored guest and friend of mine and a powerful ally whose abilities with his shamanic blades are unmatched, perhaps not even by you," he said firmly, leaving no room for argument. Grateful for the reprieve from the duelist's icy glare, Eniah sank into his chair, trying to make himself invisible.

"Now, as many of you know, the DSS Excursion has gone missing while it was returning from Freljord. Luxanna did manage to purify the pieces that we recovered but what exactly happened is still a mystery. We do suspect Noxus or Zaun as the Excursion was not a ship some rogue necromancer and a motley crew of pirates could have overwhelmed but we simply have no evidence. Be on guard."

"How do you know it wasn't Nautilus?" Vayne asked. "He is a form of undead, is he not? It wouldn't be strange for him to leave a necromantic trail."

"We've considered that, Night Hunter," said Lux. "Nautilus is indeed an undead, but like Amumu, he has yet to show any signs of hostility without provocation."

Vayne scoffed. "A passive undead doesn't exist, Lady Crownguard. Give them time."

"Perhaps, but we have no reason to suspect him. He is not a necromancer so does not leave trails of mana. The fact that he is undead is irrelevant."

"Then what of the Shadow Isles?" Garen interjected. "The Shadow Isles is far from the coasts of Demacia and Freljord, true, but there are several noteworthy necromancers who call the place home, sister."

"We've also looked into that and have found no motive. The Excursion would never have sailed beyond League sanctioned waters and the Isles are far beyond that borderline sea. Unusual activity from such a powerful magician like Karthus would have immediately alerted the League and us. It was not someone so powerful."

"Fine, so we have no leads," he huffed and sat down.

"The lack of clues is a clue in itself, brother. The perpetrators were not unduly powerful and did not harvest souls since they left no trace of such a high level sorcery. They also did not want the goods they were supposedly pirating since they contaminated them. Rogue magicians would have plundered the ship for money. So we know that they were not from the Shadow Isles, were on a strict mission, and considered goods gifted from the Freljord as worthless trash. For me, only Noxus comes to mind. They've been referring to our neighbors to the north as barbarians for years."

"Thank you, Luxanna, for the briefing, but do not let your suspicions show. We cannot act rashly." Each nodded grimly as they looked at one another. "Moving on, Tryndamere's barbarians have gathered with the Avarosans and Lissandra the Dervish, or Frostguard as she calls herself, has pledged allegiance to Ashe. It seems likely that Freljord may be granted the status of a city state."

"Sir, why might this be a problem?" asked the silent spearman that Eniah recognized as Xin Zhao. "I was under the impression that the Avarosan were our allies."

"They are. Or were. Honestly, I admire Queen Ashe. But even if we are not hostile towards Tryndamere and his tribes, we are not on friendly terms either. Their alliance may bring trouble later on."

"Personally, it's not the Avarosan who trouble me, prince." Quinn sat up to speak, Valor hopping onto the table to stress her point. "As far as I know, the Frostguard, or Dervish or whatever Lissandra calls her tribe, don't really have a reason to submit and she wouldn't bow to Ashe just because she likes her philosophy. By all records, she is a powerful ice mage. It's weird that she would ally with Ashe for seemingly no purpose."

"Agreed. We just don't know enough so here is what I am planning. Quinn, I would like you to go on a scouting expedition. Your mission will be to assess the intentions of the Avarosan and to determine the potential threats of each of the three tribes. I advise you to remain in utmost secrecy and return within the next month. I can provide some excuse to the League as to your absence until then."

"Understood."

"Moreover, I am planning on sending two of you to Kalamanda as members of an embassy to negotiate the private contracting of the nexuses found there. your mission will be the securing of a private contract. If that proves impossible, keep Noxus from the contract as well and encourage public use of the nexuses. Do I have any volunteers?" The room remained in silence. No one cared much for the barrier. Jarvan sighed and pointed towards Garen. "Short of the Lightshield name, the Crownguards stand as the proof of Demacia's sincerity. Since Luxanna is busy with the Excursion affair, you are to go as a diplomat. As for the other, Fiora, please attend."

"W-what? Why?"

"She isn't the most 'diplomatic' of us, my prince," Quinn muttered, cowing down as Fiora shot daggers towards her.

"While that may be true, Fiora is the daughter of the Laurent house. Her presence may provide that extra push needed to secure a favorable contract."

"That, or screw us all," Quinn whispered into Valor's neck feathers, just loud enough for the duelist to hear.

'I'll kill you,' she mouthed, slicing her hand across her neck.

Please stop, my colleagues. A soothing melody accompanied the inner voice.

Shyvana and Eniah whirled around, trying to identify the source. The moment Eniah noticed it was a thought and not a sound, he growled to himself, Freki, sick it. A portion of his consciousness separated from his mind as the legendary beast followed that same tendril of thought back into the offender's mind, slashing through the mental defenses like paper. A mental shout that rang like thunderclaps in their heads alerted Jarvan to what was going on.

"Enough, Eniah! That is an ally!"

Eniah warily recalled Freki, leaving the consciousness of one he now identified as the busty girl with sea green hair in the corner. She sank to the floor as Lux rushed to comfort her. "I-I'm so sorry. I had no idea what the voice was and I acted on habit."

"That is Sona. As you will find, she is mute. She uses her music and thoughts to communicate," Jarvan explained.

Th-that's alright, Sir Eniah, a stumbling thought trailed out, still clearly shaken from Freki's mental offense.

"Please do not call me 'sir.' And thank you for your forgiveness, Maven of the Strings. I've heard of you from the prince," he said, doing his best to sound cordial.

As you wish, Eniah. I was careless and forgot that you and Lady Shyvana has yet to meet me in person.

"Do not call me 'lady' either, Maven," Shyvana growled, uncomfortable with a foreign presence in her thoughts.

Understood.

"Ahem, now please let us return to the point. Since Fiora clearly is reluctant to go to Kalamanda, would you go?" Jarvan asked as he turned to Shyvana.

"M-me? I have no idea how to negotiate."

"I am not asking you to," he said kindly. "Just be as friendly and approachable with their citizens as possible. With any luck, they will find you exotic and our enemies will avoid causing physical conflicts if they know a dragon will be upon them."

"... so I'm a deterrent... That, I know how to do," she grinned.

"Then that's settled. Luxanna will continue investigations into the Excursion, Quinn shall go on an expedition into the Freljord, and Garen and Shyvana shall lead an embassy to Kalamanda. I have just one last thing to mention: it seems that Ionia is calling for a rematch against Noxus."

"Wait, from what I know, Noxus still has eight years of the Ionian occupation left, right?"

"That's correct, Eniah."

"So why should you Demacians interfere? It has nothing to do with you all right? Noxus was stronger during that match, simple as that."

"Honestly, Jarvan," Shyvana called. "I'm inclined to agree with Eniah. It's true that we are ignorant of most of the happenings, but to us, strength is everything. That is what it means to be a hunter and dragons are the greatest hunters of all. If Noxus won this contract through strength, then I feel that it should be honored."

"Then you are beasts, no better than dogs," mocked Vayne.

"Come closer and I'll show you my 'dogs,'" Eniah growled menacingly.

Sona played her etwahl more insistently, not risking another encounter with the wolves with a mental broadcast. As the mood slowly calmed down, Jarvan chided Vayne. "We don't have time to sit here and argue. The contest for Ionia is an issue to Demacia in a material sense because Noxus gained many resources from plundering Ionia. It is of personal interest to me and many others because while the results of the match is definite, it is suspected that Noxus may have tampered with the match. Moreover, Ionia was required to call forth five champions right after joining the League. They had no way of beating the veterans of the Rift."

Eniah remembered his first experience with Corki and acquiesced. "Fine, then I suppose I could understand why a rematch may be in order, but what can Demacia do about it? You all aren't involved."

"Yes, but I would like to send an envoy to Ionia to show our support and to tell them that we would lend them a champion should a match occur. Since Fiora would not go to kalamanda, would you go to Ionia?"

"Why do you insist on picking on me?"

"Because you are a noble."

"So is Vayne."

"She gave up her house when she took the mantle as Night Hunter."

"Wait a moment, J4," Lux interrupted. "Don't send Fio if she doesn't want to go or she might end up stabbing an Ionian monk or something."

"I would nev-" Fiora began, but was immediately interrupted.

"And what do you suggest?"

"Honestly, we shouldn't send a Demacian at all. My brother and I are busy with our own pressing matters and sending a Demacian to Ionia would raise quite a few red flags with Noxus. I know you don't care about that, but Noxus would play off our support as just another show of rivalry and bravado. You can say what you'd like to the press, but we shouldn't send anyone directly. What we need is a champion with no allegiance who somehow heard of the current affairs and decided that his sense of justice would not stand for an unfair occupation... someone you can trust..." Lux slowly turned and looked expectantly at Eniah.

"What? Why me?"

"She has a good point there. True, everyone knows you are my friend, but it's also true that you are not a Demacian. Each city state would be less suspicious of a champion who chooses to act alone. Besides, you just said that you would support them having a rematch. And you did say you owe me one."

"And me, prick. Go in my stead and we're even," Fiora said.

Eniah sighed and resigned himself to a new journey. "I don't have much of a choice do I?" Sona began to play a calming tune directed towards him, trying to ease his mind. Hey, Sona, he called. If you'd like to speak, please do so. She physically flinched back from the mental contact, still wary. They're names are Freki and Geri and they won't hurt you without provocation so please don't run. I'd rather talk than try to figure out what you're saying through music. She gingerly made contact and gasped as she felt three consciences within: two that seemed ferocious and deadly and the mind of a boy her age taming their tempers.

W-well, hello, she said shyly. Please take care of me, Freki and Geri. Eniah, please go. I was born in Ionia and lived in an orphanage there until a woman from Demacia adopted me. I can only do so much as a musician so please help them in my stead.

Relax, I said I'd go already, he gave a mental laugh and turned to listen to what Jarvan was saying.

"... concludes the end of this meeting. Quinn, set out as soon as possible. I will get the summoners to excuse your absence. Lux, report to me with further findings. Garen and Shyvana, your visit shall be made public immediately. Eniah, please set out soon as well. Galio, send word to my father of our meeting. As for the rest, carry on." With that, he gave a quick salute and left, leading a trail of champions as they each filed out one by one.


A/N: So, a list of main champions. Point of View may change during some chapters. Lux is smarter than she acts, huh? XD Didn't want her to be the dumb blonde chick...
Michael- trying to get a feather from Anivia and praying that she doesn't kill him.
Garen and Shyvana- off to Kalamanda.
Lux- preparing further investigations on the Excursion.
Eniah- off to Ionia. (Mainly did this as a way for him to meet certain champions. I have a thing for Ahri and Lee ;D )
Quinn- Freljord (As decided by the release patch/lore/forum leaks of Lissandra)

I'm honestly not sure if I'll work on pairings. I do plan on it but I'm not positive where I want to go with that yet. Please leave your thoughts.