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 Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 9:59 am
((Ack, my bad. I got confused and posted before running to class, my mistake.))
Iri opened an eye and unraveled himself from the statue. He straightened himself and looked at the general. "Hello, Ahriman. How goes the festival preparations?" Iri found it interesting that the basis of the festival was Ahriman's revival. Was this a celebration of life or of their lord? He honestly didn't know. However, he saw opportunity. And this opportunity was the reason he had been flying across the country, even crossing to Mythomortia to complete this task. "I have a preposition. One that includes the interests of my kind, but also potentially yours. The R'aalguthar will be within a few miles of the city tomorrow and would like to open their own stands for the festival." The R'aalguthar, 'wandering drakes in the tongue of the drakes', are a nomadic flight of drakes who live together and have adopted several practices from elven culture, the most important being established commerce. While most drakes are not interested in commerce and trade through currency, these particular drakes follow elven currency, willing to trade whatever they have for jewels, gold, and food. Though few in numbers, they sold some of the rarest items, ranging from drake-scaled armor to dragon-stone pendents. Iri regarded the general with a calm eye, awaiting his response. Allowing in the R'aalguthar could bring unwanted attention to the group, however it was also away to bring attention to the fact that drakes are capable of adapting to a society that is not their own. Iri also noticed the empty courtyard. Clearly, Ahriman had ordered the place cleared out for this meeting.
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 1:25 pm
((Just an OOC for NK here. I noticed as well. I always wanted to play a character based on Cloud Strife. And I thought, you know, why not? I need the character that will have an easier time blending in for villages and such.))
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 2:32 pm
An arrow suddenly pierced through the rope, ripping it in half. A chuckle erupting from above. A man sat in a deep green cloak, a top the branches. He slung his bow around his torso again. “I don’t think there is any need for that, gentlemen.” He held a long pipe between his teeth, puffing out smoke casually as he leaned against the trunk. The shadow of his hood covered his eyes.
He had been watching what had been occurring for quite a while now. The man had used the tree for residence the previous evening, when the sound of the swordswoman had awoken him. He had planned to make his way to the Elvish Capital that day, but found himself distracted. It was a nucciance, really—these obnoxious boys harassing this swordswoman? From what he had seen, she was quite good—and this childish bravado was beginning to annoy him. “You two obviously don’t know how to treat a woman; feel free to take a few lessons. In the meantime, I would let her go before she decides to shove a branch up your arses.” He chuckled, plucking the pipe from his lips, and dumping the contents from above atop the two 'rebels' heads. "If you are so desprate for a fight, why don't you run in front of some elvish gaurds and moon them, rather then pick fights with people in the same situation you are, hm?"
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 2:41 pm
Vexrion turned to face the man. "I've lived many years fighting my own kind for your rights. I've found only too often 'rebels' turn out to be mercenaries looking for They milk you dry, or as dry as they think they'll get, and then turn on you. Too often. I'll trust a human, but I have to be careful until I'm sure." Vexrion chuckled and motioned to Xevrex. "Do you mind? It seems we may need to collect some firewood tonight." As Vexrion moved again to keep anyone from leaving, he took out a small wooden flute, playing one long note.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Yes lead, I understand." Xevrex walked up to the tree and frowned. "Three options, which is more than I'd normally give. One, you come down swear allegiance to our cause and join our fight. That's the easy way. Two, come down here and I beat you with the buster blade here," He motioned to the weapon on his back. "And THEN you either join us or die. Or three, we can all have a nice chat until the rest of us get here and THEN you join or die. So really two, join or die." He smiled. "I could also chop down this here tree, I've found the buster blade quite effective, being so heavy and thick. Now come down before I have to make you."
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 2:55 pm
The man let out another smug laugh. "Really? Your cause? Hmm..." He crossed his arms and stroked his chin. "That's very interesting. So interesting, in fact that I may just inquire why in the world you out of all people in this land, think you're strong enough to take down the elves?" He rolled his shoulders and lay upon the branch again, staring up at the leaves. "You seem to be just galivanting about killing anyone that does not comply to you--if you are attempting to recieve support, I can assure you that is not how you should go about such a task."
Again, the man took his bow from around his torso and shot an arrow at his challenger's feet. "I can tell you right now, the elvish military will smite you both with one blow, not to mention they're undead leader. Now, I will put down my blade and my bow if you do the same. Perhaps then we can have a civilized chat about strategically going about this rebellion. I have a plan. I am a resonable man--let us see how reasonable you might be. After all, we are men--not savages as the Elves would like us to believe, correct?"
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 3:07 pm
"I haven't called you savage, have I?" Vexrion brushed back a bit of hair to show the man his ears for a moment before letting it fall back. "I work to destroy the caste system my kind has worked so hard on building." He smiled at the mention of the General. "Ah, yes. Their leader. Earth Affinity, Earth GENERAL no less. He must be dealt with. But there is no way any army can take him on. No, for him we must turn the whole country against. But, are you worth the trouble you are causing? Perhaps, at least, you'd consent to battling my faction's champion? Just to be sure you are worth the trouble you no doubt will bring."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Xevrex looked at the arrow and crushed it with his foot. "And if you continue to act like this, I'll take it on myself to finish you for Lead." Xevrex walked back a ways, standing beside the girl but not nearly close enough for her to do anything, and had drawn a smaller one edged sword from behind him and held it in his right hand, ready to defend himself from the man. And keep the girl from running.
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 3:15 pm
((Ah I see. Noticed the Cloud references there))
Ahriman stroked his masked chin with his gloved right hand as he thought about what he had just heard. That was quite interesting. The one problem would be the security concern, no doubt the people would be surprised to find themselves dealing with drakes. The nobles would love the chance of course. The right people needed to spearhead it to get support for the idea though. Did he have enough time to organize this?
"The plans are in proper order." Ahriman replied the question concerning the festival. The introduction of the R'aalguthar may too sudden, there was little time before the festival to let the city know as well...
"... The Northern plain is free and open enough for use by the R'aalguthar. I will delegate enough workers to prepare the land over night." Ahriman agreed. There were regulations, rules to follow of course. "However, the merchants must allow the city guards to inspect their wares before putting anything on sale. By our law certain items may need to be removed from trade so as not to disturb the peace of my people. Secondly, I can only allow a few drakes present, for too many would only deter the people." He explained. The drake merchants presence would benefit racial relations as well as boost trade within the city, both of which were very welcome. Their alliance was quite new though and they would not get anywhere taking too large steps, it had to be approached calmly, patiently. As far as how many there should be, five might already be going too far. The rest of the traders could reside within the surrounding area, further away from the city, and have specific representatives handle their wares nearer the city.
"I will personally welcome the Drakes during my early festival speech if their preparations have gone smoothly. I must, however, insist on your constant presence in the city and with your people during their time here. The kingdom recognizes you as an individual, you need to make yourself be seen as the representative of a peaceful, graceful people - people whom the Arcanis would gladly welcome in their midst." Irilentath would just need to make sure things went smoothly and support the people in their meeting. Ahriman would be too busy most of the time to participate, at least until his ending speech was done. Any issues during the Dragon's watch over the R'aalguthar would bring more work for Ahriman, who would have to take responsibility for any damages. He would of course take very strict action in sorting out any distress.
"If there are no issues, I will personally attend the R'aalguthar stores after the Speech of Rebirth, in the evening." That was the official end of his participation in the festival. His day was going to be fuller than ever before on this day. The additional sacrifice of his time should work to a great benefit, hopefully.
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 3:29 pm
"Ah! You are elvish then! So am I, distantly..." He chuckled again. "How interesting, I thought an elf would have the logic to realize that threatening to kill is a bad motivator. Join or die is a rather bad slogan." The cloaked man laughed to himself again. "Me? Causing trouble? Oh no, my good sirs, I believe it is you--and I refuse the duel. I have no need to prove myself, after all, I have a secret weapon." Normally, he would not act such a way, but these two were so pompus and foolish, it nearly made it impossible to deal with them civially. Yet, he found himself leaping from the tree and casting aside his weapons and holding up his hands. "I only wish to discuss. Perhaps, your faction could join me. When fighting the elves, one must use logic after all." He smiled from beneath his hood, "Right now, we are the least of Earth General's worries. I agree, we need to be noticed, but this is not the way, good sirs. Now I beg, let us dine together. I will prepare a fire, kill a deer, and we can sit discussing this. You need men, so do I. We could be a perfect match; a perfect opprotunity for each other, you see."
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 3:46 pm
"I am sorry to say that this duel is not an option. I hate politics, and I'm not exactly favored among my brethren." He laughed at that. he, too, was acting a bit different than usual. But as of late he'd been betrayed by a few too many humans in his own rebellion, and was distrustful still. "Politics and logic are what got me banished and made me an exile. They only understand power. So, are you going to continue sitting there and assuming that my elven blood makes me a politician? Or are we going to show that we DO have something to offer one another. If it is the later, and you DO have a good power to lend, then I will gladly accept you in."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Xevrex sighed and looked up at the man. "Forgive lead. He's spent many years fighting this system and he's been betrayed four times in the past week alone by his trusted advisers. It's not easy for him, being the only elf in the camp. Normally he'd be much different. I should know, I've been his ward for 6 years, since I was a boy." Xevrex smiled a bit to himself. "You will have to prove you can do decent help unfortunately, but he'll warm up to you eventually." He looked over at the girl and whispered to her next. "Just comply. He gets better."
((Oh yeah, the refferences. I mean, the guy IS Cloud's picture anyways. Might as well throw in part of the name right?))
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 3:58 pm
"I'm not surprised you've been betrayed." He muttered out of the corner of his mouth. "Just explain to me how you plan on defeating the most elete fighting force in the land by blindly running into battle with a sword and a flag in the air! You might as well run in with your trousers around your ankles!" The man let out a breath. "Fine. I will fight your most elete faction member if that is what it takes to get you to converse with me--but I do not agree with this. I would like to make that clear. It's utterly shameful, you calling yourself rebels. There is no orginization in your ways what so ever. You're bullies, just as bad as these elves you so detest!" The stranger went over and took up his sword, slinging the bow around his body once more. "I would like to make a few conditions. If I win, you hear me out. Two," he gestured to the woman. "You let her go. Three, if I do not agree with your planning, I am allowed to abandon your cause. Set your own conditions as you will."
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 3:59 pm
As was a habit of Romhild's these days, she quietly listened to the conversation - carefully observing the behaviors and mannerisms of each person present. So far, she couldn't help but form a far more positive first impression of her rescuer. Reasonable, logical, not even half as unnecessarily forceful... mostly human, to boot! With a broadening grin she finally spoke up, putting her say into the conversation. "If it's someone like you leading the way, I'm willing to offer my blade to further the cause - assuming you're willing to ally with one such as myself and that you are just as logical as you appear to be now, if not more so." She didn't mind mentioning her allegiances to a human such as this. An elf that threatens her on sight then tries to force her to comply with his goals without a word in edgewise, however, was not as likely to impress. Then again, she hated most elves due to the fact that most generally acted haughty and holier-than-thou, even if she had not truly gotten to know them just yet.
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 4:08 pm
Vexrion nodded. "My terms. I win, you and I get to talk. She gets to walk back to camp, and you buy Xevrex and the others new boots. We've been running out of new pairs and we don't have the money alone to re outfit the entire unit. Oh, and last thing? I get my magic." Vexrion smiled and stepped up, pulling the sword out to his side and spinning it around in a circle by his side, creating a small air current. "Challenge accepted." With that he piced up a pocket of air from his new found air current and threw it at the man.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"And so the battle begins." Xevrex frowned. He disapproved of Vexrion's methods as of late. "Utterly shameful, but he doesn't know. He is so kind to us. So kind. He called them brothers, and they betrayed us." He kept muttering the words out, only Romhild would possibly hear him. "Why can't things b like the old days?"
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 4:23 pm
Iri listened and nodded. Thus, the general's response was as expected. "The R'aalguthar had planned to live outside the city for the most part anyways. Only a few have developed the understanding of how city dwellers live. They are the wisest and the calmest of the R'aalguthar and there are only three of them. They shall be the ones to enter the city. Atheraltin, the White, Geldenarch, the Green, and Nelvartian, the Red. The rest plan to remain at least a league from the city, as the young have a tendency to be rowdy, as some young ones have a tendency to be. Many would like to purchase livestock as not to rob the natural wildlife from the area as well." All the R'aal had agreed to this plan, as it would be detrimental to the local wildlife if the drakes were to over-hunt the area. "As for the workers, the R'aal, for reasons of their own, have chosen to work on their own, claiming something along the lines of their tradition to 'work for themselves with tooth, claw, and ingenuity.' However, they appreciate the offer." Iri rumbled and cleared his throat, looking away from the general as not to cover the man in smoke. "Sorry about that. Anyways, is there anything else? I can catch them before the moon falls and return tomorrow morning with the three drakes and their wares if you'd like." Iri shifted himself, golden scales flashing in the torchlight as the sun continued its decent.
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 4:29 pm
"Why thank you," he replied to the woman. The man was suddenly thrown back against the tree. He grunted, the bark cracking against him. "Agh!" He slid down the trunk. He then stood himself up again, standing straight, getting up quickly. He suddenly let out a small rumble of laughter. He reached up, grasping the branch of the tree he was in previously. He perched in it, hidding easily among the branches and using the enviorment to his advantage. He slung his bow and fired a shot--he then invisibly moved to the next and fired again. He was unseen among the trees, and silent, nearly impossible to detect. He also was at a high point, easily able to see what was below.
If worse came to worse, he had a plan to escape. He hoped it would not get that far.
He quickly concealed himself again, slinging three arrows into his quiver and shooting them simotaneously.
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 4:39 pm
Vexrion swing the sword, still spinning it, and blocked the first arrow. "Best idea you have? A real warrior fights where the enemy is as strong as themself." He spun faster and created a sort of wind shield, from the spinning current made by the outreached sword. The air wasn't a physical shield, but it slowed and partially deflected the arrows in front of him. "I learned a while ago how to create this. A small air current. Just enough to use some basic magics in fights that would otherwise leave me powerless." He saw the three arrows and tried to block all three, two going to the sides and the third deflected into his shoulder. Fortunately he wore armor, so it just got caught between two plates. In reality, most of the arrows blocked were lucky shots for him, and a few got caught in his plate armor. Otherwise, blood would have been draw already.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Xevrex listened around, waiting for a disturbance. No doubt the sounds of fighting, and Vexrion's voice, would ravel. If reports were right, the counter rebels were hiding out nearby. They never had been able to resist a fight, and one of Vexrion's ideas had been to get into such a loud fight as to draw out the last leader of the group. Lead had gone a major personality change for just that, like the wind he could fill any role. Xevrex knew it would be a bit before the raging tempest would calm, but he knew that he'd return to the free spirit the entire camp adored.
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