Eida gave Callista an empty smile as his mind tinkered away with his idea. "Mayumi herself would stay at your side. As I remember the discussion with Chanekeh, he has sent a good number of the Azuma clan here to make sure you remain well. I would not insist on your retainer leaving your side."
If he managed to work this out, they could dismantle any siege equipment the city had emplaced, and maybe even weaken a few of their resolute doors.
He watched the new woman's reactions, she was clearly more than she said, otherwise she wouldn't have the eyes of his Warlord. Besides, Awilix was notoriously bad with keeping a good secret. She flaunted everything she had that was better than others.
If he managed to work this out, they could dismantle any siege equipment the city had emplaced, and maybe even weaken a few of their resolute doors.
He watched the new woman's reactions, she was clearly more than she said, otherwise she wouldn't have the eyes of his Warlord. Besides, Awilix was notoriously bad with keeping a good secret. She flaunted everything she had that was better than others.
"They can't take their eyes off you, beautiful, but they'd better try harder than they are. She's my new lover, I asked her along in case Jin-Sahn spurned me again." Awilix said, slipping an arm around the Lunar inappropriately to emphasize her point before planting a long kiss on the woman's lips while staring straight at the Prince.
"And let's not piss off Sanjuro. I know no one's seen under that mask but I imagine he has a constant look as though he's recently discovered someone has pissed in his porridge. Does anyone really want to face his anger?" she changed the subject away from her pet.
"And let's not piss off Sanjuro. I know no one's seen under that mask but I imagine he has a constant look as though he's recently discovered someone has pissed in his porridge. Does anyone really want to face his anger?" she changed the subject away from her pet.
"It's my amazing sexy tail isn't it?" She said kind of flatly, not enjoying being indicated as the other Exalt's lover as she wiggled out from her grasp.
The Lunar was at it again with innuendos about her supposed future husband. It wasn't as if she was overjoyed about her future as a Khal's wife, but maybe that was part of the joke the other woman was playing. Who would want the princess of a dying lineage when they could have a lascivious warlord who clearly knew what she was doing with men?
A faux smile was placed on her face again as she turned her gaze to the sorcerer again. ”If you can find a way for my Azuma to assist you within the bounds of their sworn duty then so be it. The shorter the battle is the less danger I will be in. I think I should leave the strategy to your, and everyone else presents wisdom. Come May, we should return to our tent.” She didn't even need to spur Speedy into movement, it was as if the beast had read her mind or in reality had just heard her words. The link between them was strong and he was more than happy to carry her away for her source of discomfort, especially when the woman began insulting Sanjuro so openly.
A faux smile was placed on her face again as she turned her gaze to the sorcerer again. ”If you can find a way for my Azuma to assist you within the bounds of their sworn duty then so be it. The shorter the battle is the less danger I will be in. I think I should leave the strategy to your, and everyone else presents wisdom. Come May, we should return to our tent.” She didn't even need to spur Speedy into movement, it was as if the beast had read her mind or in reality had just heard her words. The link between them was strong and he was more than happy to carry her away for her source of discomfort, especially when the woman began insulting Sanjuro so openly.
If we are able to send spies, either over, under or behind their walls, then why not send them with the sappers and make a hole? Are your explosives too heavy and complicated for one of the Azuma clan, or are none of your men stealthy enough to accompany them? Donovan asked. It wasn't a challenge, but if the risk was being taken, he didn't see any harm in multiplying the effect.
Your Grace, a word in private. Donovan requested from the Khal's son. After stepping aside, he spoke in a severe low whisper Chagatai plays a dangerous political game with both your life and your honor. If this attack fails because the Temujin do not come then they can place the blame squarely upon your Father and the kingdom he has created. More personally though, he will discredit you as a leader. With respect many of the Temjuin warlords follow his command and not yours, which is not the way it should be. It is no secret that in court you are all but declared as the Khal's heir. If you die, then Chen is the only choice. If both of you fall.... Then Chagatai is in line. If he can dishonor you, then you may be as good as dead as far as command of the kingdom is concerned. If you choose to delays then the only risk is meeting your Father's deadline, which failure to meet would rest squarely on Chagatai’s shoulders. The concern of court politics in Donovan's voice was then replaced by the steel of a warrior. Regardless of the path we take, more than likely we will be committed to it to the end. Regardless though. The sworn swords of An-Tir are yours. We would rather all perish upon this field to see your success than to have one of us live knowing your defeat.
Your Grace, a word in private. Donovan requested from the Khal's son. After stepping aside, he spoke in a severe low whisper Chagatai plays a dangerous political game with both your life and your honor. If this attack fails because the Temujin do not come then they can place the blame squarely upon your Father and the kingdom he has created. More personally though, he will discredit you as a leader. With respect many of the Temjuin warlords follow his command and not yours, which is not the way it should be. It is no secret that in court you are all but declared as the Khal's heir. If you die, then Chen is the only choice. If both of you fall.... Then Chagatai is in line. If he can dishonor you, then you may be as good as dead as far as command of the kingdom is concerned. If you choose to delays then the only risk is meeting your Father's deadline, which failure to meet would rest squarely on Chagatai’s shoulders. The concern of court politics in Donovan's voice was then replaced by the steel of a warrior. Regardless of the path we take, more than likely we will be committed to it to the end. Regardless though. The sworn swords of An-Tir are yours. We would rather all perish upon this field to see your success than to have one of us live knowing your defeat.
"Because Donovan, that would void the Azuma's worth. As Mayumi told us, they were given explicit orders not to engage in battle. I'm recommending they work as recon or sabotage if their orders were worded the way they are. Azuma Sanjuro is unforgiving to those who break the word he gives."
Eida needed to see if he had the support of any of the wraiths before he went off into the woods. But for now, he needed to stay on task and see this piece through. There was so much to do, and it all lay on the Prince's head. He didn't envy that responsibility. The meeting was obviously concluded, so he headed off the way that Callista went in hopes of getting an answer.
Eida needed to see if he had the support of any of the wraiths before he went off into the woods. But for now, he needed to stay on task and see this piece through. There was so much to do, and it all lay on the Prince's head. He didn't envy that responsibility. The meeting was obviously concluded, so he headed off the way that Callista went in hopes of getting an answer.
Well, that was a near useless meeting. They still don't have a plan of action she could work with. Rebekah sighed as everyone left and headed in her own direction. She wanted to get all of the siege equipment assembled before dusk so that she could get the range bands estimated. She could at least have things ready for when they did need to act.
Jill saw the group breaking up and figured she needed to get out of there before the other lunar did more than just slipped her tongue in her mouth. A quick scan of the crowd and she caught sight of the familiar red hair she was looking for. Sign she figured she might as well face the music instead of putting it off until later and went after siege engineer.
”Hey wait up,” she said falling in step with Ruby. ” I'm still working for you right? I mean you can hardly call it work because I'm not asking for any pay but that lady scares me.”
”Hey wait up,” she said falling in step with Ruby. ” I'm still working for you right? I mean you can hardly call it work because I'm not asking for any pay but that lady scares me.”
Rebekah heard the woman coming up behind her, but didn't slow her pace on her way to the construction fields.
"Working for me? Seems more like you're working for yourself. You were really quick to hope on her train when she mentioned treasures. Why is it you chose me anyway? My own 'treasures' that you can unload when I'm busy?"
She felt justified in her accusations, especially after the Warlord was so blatant about this lunar's predisposition towards stuff others have. Rebekah was rather attached to her things.
"Working for me? Seems more like you're working for yourself. You were really quick to hope on her train when she mentioned treasures. Why is it you chose me anyway? My own 'treasures' that you can unload when I'm busy?"
She felt justified in her accusations, especially after the Warlord was so blatant about this lunar's predisposition towards stuff others have. Rebekah was rather attached to her things.
Jill huffed indignantly. ”If I wanted your things I would have lifted them long ago and you’d still not know it. Luna chose me because of my talents, so don’t think for a second that I’m just a petty thief an ordinary person can catch. I only take things people aren’t putting to good use that others can do good with, and no I don’t make a profit off it.” She flattened her ears on her head and sighed. ”The stories you hear about the Stewards aren’t true you know, we aren’t raving crazed beastmen that go around eating people. Well, maybe Awilix is but that’s not the point. If you want me to go, fine. I guess that’s better than waking up with a mob of people you thought were your friends around your bed trying to kill you.”
You wouldn't think that such a huge horse would be so hard to find. But when it moved half again as fast as any other steed, it was more of a matte of catching up than anything.
Eida finally caught sight of the Princess and hopped up into a jog to catch them before the people cleared out of her way and the mount picked up speed.
"Princess Callista, a moment of your time if I could." Eida dropped his eyes as he matched pace. He heard the horse snort, and could swear that it was laughing at him.
Eida finally caught sight of the Princess and hopped up into a jog to catch them before the people cleared out of her way and the mount picked up speed.
"Princess Callista, a moment of your time if I could." Eida dropped his eyes as he matched pace. He heard the horse snort, and could swear that it was laughing at him.
"Stories? Only thing I know about your 'Stewards' are that they are the reason that so much of the first age wonders are gone. Hiding them away from the rest of the world. Otherwise, no, haven't heard stories, haven't met on before the two of you. Good to know they eat people though."
Rebekah was hurt, but if those things were what went around about Lunars, she couldn't blame Silver a secret that would have gotten her thrown off a ship in the middle of the ocean.
After walking in silence for a minute, Rebekah sighed. "Fine, but you aren't working for me. I'm not paying you. You're working with me, and we're splitting what we find together. And you get me to understand why you chose to stick around me instead of that temple or whatever of wonders. She can't scare you that much, and working with another of your kind would be easier anyway."
Rebekah was hurt, but if those things were what went around about Lunars, she couldn't blame Silver a secret that would have gotten her thrown off a ship in the middle of the ocean.
After walking in silence for a minute, Rebekah sighed. "Fine, but you aren't working for me. I'm not paying you. You're working with me, and we're splitting what we find together. And you get me to understand why you chose to stick around me instead of that temple or whatever of wonders. She can't scare you that much, and working with another of your kind would be easier anyway."
Callista made no attempt to talk to Speedy like she normally did despite him dramatically swiveling an ear towards her several times. This whole campaign seemed like a poor idea in the first place and she considered urging her horse to just keep riding so that she could disappear into the world and not be heard from again. She sighed, knowing that she could not leave her people behind and the country she had grown up in and loved. There was also May to consider as well, if she did not come with her, the woman’s life would surely be forfeit for her failure.
A voice drew her out of her melancholy thoughts and she looked down, surprised to see Eida trying to place Speedy. She stifled a small smirk and bade her horse to stop without use of the reigns, which were pretty much there for decoration or when he got ornery, which the sometimes did.
”Certainly, Eida. Is the meeting adjourned so soon?”
A voice drew her out of her melancholy thoughts and she looked down, surprised to see Eida trying to place Speedy. She stifled a small smirk and bade her horse to stop without use of the reigns, which were pretty much there for decoration or when he got ornery, which the sometimes did.
”Certainly, Eida. Is the meeting adjourned so soon?”
”Why would I want to work with her just because she’s another of Luna’s chosen? She grabbed my tail! Not even my butt, my literal tail!. As for hiding the treasures, that’s not true either. Many got buried by those Dragons to prevent them being used by the Solars and Lunars.”
She flashed her a big grin. ”Fine, I’m working with you but I see no reason why we can’t go temple hopping together. It’s nice to have another like-minded person around and you’re handy with machinery, so long as you leave the dangerous stuff to me. I just want to see these wonders and bring them back. Oh,what the say about curiosity and cats isn’t true either. Speaking of which, you want to see something?”
She flashed her a big grin. ”Fine, I’m working with you but I see no reason why we can’t go temple hopping together. It’s nice to have another like-minded person around and you’re handy with machinery, so long as you leave the dangerous stuff to me. I just want to see these wonders and bring them back. Oh,what the say about curiosity and cats isn’t true either. Speaking of which, you want to see something?”
Eida was thankful that she stopped her mount, he wasn't sure he could keep a conversation moving at that pace. "Yes, Princess. Unfortunately, without a full sense of our situation, there is not much to go on. Which is why I came to you. My request of assistance from the Azuma clan stands. I feel like their capable individuals could give us a much clearer picture of what we are up against, and possibly dismantle some of their long range equipment."
He raised his arms palms up in a surrendering motion towards Callista, a traditional supplication of the Nahuatl telling their superiors that an offer of blood was willing if necessary.
"However, they are not my resources to allocate, and wished to ask this boon of you. I wish to end this entire conflict without serious casualties where applicable."
He raised his arms palms up in a surrendering motion towards Callista, a traditional supplication of the Nahuatl telling their superiors that an offer of blood was willing if necessary.
"However, they are not my resources to allocate, and wished to ask this boon of you. I wish to end this entire conflict without serious casualties where applicable."
Rebekah was at a loss for words for a second. "So doing something like that is taboo then? Well, ok, if she had pet my hair I would have wanted to slap her."
She raised an eyebrow at the offer, still skeptical, but interested. "But you'd have to kill with curiosity what, eight,nine times? I'm in. As long as it is together, and not some tilted deal because you're Ascended and I'm not." Ruby's eyes lit up at the prospect of something new. "Now show me what you got."
She raised an eyebrow at the offer, still skeptical, but interested. "But you'd have to kill with curiosity what, eight,nine times? I'm in. As long as it is together, and not some tilted deal because you're Ascended and I'm not." Ruby's eyes lit up at the prospect of something new. "Now show me what you got."
Callista shifted in her saddle uneasily. ”The Azuma are not mine to command, so I am unsure what it is you desire me to do. I do not wish this confrontation to go on longer that necessary either, nor have unneeded casualties.” There was one thing she disliked about being on top of a horse and that was having to look down on people when she talked to them. She slid down without assistance and looked a bit confused at his gesture. ”Why is it that you hold out your hands as if offering me something?”
”Well I don’t know about taboo but I hardly know the woman. Most people find it creepy and don’t want anything to do with it anyway, but yes I guess it would be like stroking your hair. If it was very sensitive and attached to your rear.”
Jill gave her a giant grin. ”If that was the case I’d be long dead several times. Over here,” she said tugging her arm behind a siege tower. ”Don’t freak out or run off. I know this might be terrifying at first.” Jill smirked a little and looked as if she was dropping to the ground, but she wasn’t dropping she was shrinking and changing. With little silver light and shimmering of her tattoos, her form shifted into a small silver tattooed white cat with smooth fur and large green eyes much like her human form. She purred loudly and butted against Ruby’s leg in an unmistakably feline way.
Jill gave her a giant grin. ”If that was the case I’d be long dead several times. Over here,” she said tugging her arm behind a siege tower. ”Don’t freak out or run off. I know this might be terrifying at first.” Jill smirked a little and looked as if she was dropping to the ground, but she wasn’t dropping she was shrinking and changing. With little silver light and shimmering of her tattoos, her form shifted into a small silver tattooed white cat with smooth fur and large green eyes much like her human form. She purred loudly and butted against Ruby’s leg in an unmistakably feline way.
Eida dropped his hands and looked up at her, well, level at her now. Different cultures, different practices. Not everything was universal, no matter how open it seemed.
"It is an offering of strength and power: that I am willing to give you anything from myself, including sweat and blood, to see this task done. It is a common motion among the Nahuatl to show reverence, submission, and desire.
If you cannot speak for them, Mayumi, as Chanekeh's sibling has authority I presume? May I ask this of her to see if the Azuma are willing to take this task? I understand the answer may well be no, but if others more practiced than I are available, I would have it so."
"It is an offering of strength and power: that I am willing to give you anything from myself, including sweat and blood, to see this task done. It is a common motion among the Nahuatl to show reverence, submission, and desire.
If you cannot speak for them, Mayumi, as Chanekeh's sibling has authority I presume? May I ask this of her to see if the Azuma are willing to take this task? I understand the answer may well be no, but if others more practiced than I are available, I would have it so."
"Oooh! Cute!" Rebekah nearly squealed in excitement. Freaked out was probably the last thing she was. She's dealt with thugs, pirates, rapists, elementals, and behemoths of the ocean. This little cat wouldn't phase her. She bent over and picked Silver up, scratching her behind the ears.
"Assuming you still understand me, can you talk like that too? Does it hurt when you do that? What's it like?" There were only so many questions to ask a cat after all, before you start sounding crazy even to yourself.
"Assuming you still understand me, can you talk like that too? Does it hurt when you do that? What's it like?" There were only so many questions to ask a cat after all, before you start sounding crazy even to yourself.
Moderators: cyranax Callista (played anonymously) Eida (played anonymously) Kellian Roux (played anonymously)