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Spademan
6
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Posted - 2015.06.18 23:25:00 -
[2461] - Quote
Cryptic WarDevil wrote:Spademan wrote:Cryptic WarDevil wrote:
Gungir laughed and pointed to a lever on the inside, "ye pull this and the floaters underneath intake air while the ones on top expel it, the iron padded bottom side holds you under water while the floaters keep you at a certain level, the higher to lever is, the higher you are, the lower it is, the lower you go, make sense?" He smiled as he waited for either a confused grunt or a sign of amazement.
"Huh" replied Godwin, only managing a single word in a mixture of confusion and amazement. "It is a most fascinating contraption, but what tasks would you imagine it performing?" The latter stumped Godwin, he failed to realise a situation for this admittedly amazing craft to be used in. Perhaps a more experienced sailor would know. It also dawned on him that he should not keep his expedition waiting. "Mainly an exploration tool lad, but if need be, she can be used for war. She's got about 4kilos of explosive bombs in this area" Gungir lifts a metal lid to reveal a number of cluster bombs, floater bombs, and fuse tubes (fuse tubes are EXTREMELY explosive tubes of black powder projected by 2 small cans of yellow salt ((builds enough pressure to blow a closed container into pieces)) placed on either side with small holes in the bottom) which act like torpedoes to an extent. "As well having several observation areas and hatches that ye can use for defense and getting your environment understood." Gungir smiled as he saw something out of one of the scopes. Say lad, ye want to see her in action? "
Much of what the Dwarf had said to him was unknown to him. Terms like Cluster Bomb, Floater Bomb, Fuse Tube and Torpedo were all new. While he could deduce the first two the latter were lost to him. "That would be most appreciated, but I'm afraid I have to request a brief demonstration as I must return to my expedition."
In Kilerth, Osmarium...
The Earl Wulgan Cyneson of Kilerth has passed. Murdered before his time by an unknown assailant. He died childless, and due to events with his brothers in the past the inheritance fell onto his cousin, Coenred Bericson of Dunburgh. He had previously been a Baron and very popular amongst the courts. A devout man with near white hair the inheritance was already secured by his eldest son, while his second would inherit the Barony of Dunburgh. There was little to no resistance to his crowning and he was very outspoken in his hostility to the Paric. His first act as Earl was an order to the Creed. He gave a speech telling them that the would no longer be welcome in Kilerth and tasked couriers with travelling to their known hideouts and giving them official notices requesting their immediate departure.
What're you looking at me like that for? I'll shank you I will.
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True Adamance
Praetoriani Classiarii Templares
Praetoria Imperialis Excubitoris
19
|
Posted - 2015.06.22 02:57:00 -
[2462] - Quote
In Kysma, a Skirmish in the East Khorvendi Province
Kallas stumbled through the chaos of war tripping over dozens of redskinned corpses as he dashed long spear in hand between bulging lines as six thousand Kysmal threw themselves at one another, howling, spears glinting as they thrust forwards.
The battle had been going poorly for Lucent Khormhe's army ever since the Rah'ten, company lord, in charge of the left flank had been struck in the throat by a black fletched arrow of another Lucent archer from nearly seventy yards. The shot would have been impressive were it not solely attributed to luck, the shaft having passed by the personal guard of their Rah'ten and tearing open his throat at the same moment she'd lowered her shield, the nobleman archer would already be feeling the shame of a skilless kill.
His padded leather jacket flapped at his side. Torn and rent by almost a dozen arrows he'd been lucky to have survived at all given the intolerable lack of discipline in the army. Barely one in a dozen knew the proper stances required of the long spear and even fewer given the punishment of the bow knew a a properly oiled string from a damp one. As such it had been no wonder that their left wing, almost entirely composed of recruits under the newly furnished company lord, had collapsed so spectacularly when the forward spear lines buckled under heavy fire.
His own platoon had been assigned as a rearguard. Apparently the Highlucent Kysmalli had expected this to happen and left a disposable arm of his forces to slow down the bulk of the enemy vanguard. Their platoon had help though defending the high ground in a discplined ring of spears striking down at any knots of soldiers that approached them, exchanging thrusts until their foes had limped away defeated, and earning glory for every man amongst them who fell to those black feathered arrows.
You could tell a Lucent's army apart they said by the fletching on his archer's quivers or the knots of banded fabric's tied to each spear head. His own was the regal silver of the Khormhe's while their foes were the unsightly black of the northerners from Amahransh. It was the second time in a decade these thrice damned cowards had launched an incursion into the central province buffering the homeland seeking to claim the every precious plateaus of his people.
He slowed. Mind screaming at him to slow his pace, to let it organise itself and accept that he wasn't dead. Every one else was, everyone except him. Why wasn't he dead. The previous moments of battle were a haze. Bitter, filled with fear. His thrusts had been faster then, more accurate, each one felled a foe. Then their spear wall had been broken, that rain of shafts, then nothing. Silence. A surge of energy, a cracking sound like as sundering of the very heavens.......and he'd been running... for his lines, the enemy forces routed and falling back.
Kallas was no coward. He'd not abandoned his post. Kallas would have gladly relished fighting to his dying breath but not like this, not for some hopeless cause, a battle like any other with no meaning.
The horns sounded. A single short blast, a notification, then once more. A long mournful note. Retreat.
His heart sank. Their platoon's sacrifice would be in vain.
"Shah'ten, V'tshmal am at anlnya palambas?" He screamed over the din at a familiar form, the slightly glowing form of the Battalion Lord. Begging for an audience with the man before he took to the field to cut a line of retreat free for his soldiers.
"What is it soldier?" He answered absently, slowly running a heavily armoured gauntlet down the length of his heavy twinblade blade.
From atop his Yhagram he looked a regal figure indeed. Kallas wondered if he was in the presence of the High Lucent.....but reminded himself that this warrior was too young, too powerfully built. He looked to be almost a decade younger than the spearman. Most likely only just past his thirteenth nameday.
"Shah'ten......we must not retreat. We can still salvage the day....." He said breathlessly, for a moment forgetting his place.
"You presume to question you better's judgement soldier? What caste are you to question the High Lucent?" The youth asked pointedly.
"I....I merely...."
"What rank soldier?"
"Mah'tal Naemsaer, Shah'ten."
"Hmmmmm son of a forgeman. You forget yourself and your place. But humour me how might we salvage this day. I might set of to slay their vanguard in a good mood."
He struggled with the words, trying to explain what he had seen as his company had died around him. The events were becoming cleared but he couldn't quite bring himself to remember.
"In full retreat you say?" The Battalion Lord looked thoughtful. Then his eyes narrowed. "Where is your company. What was that thunderclap?"
His only reply was weak. His body was shaking, not from fatigue, something else. "I don't know sir? Dead....but I don't know."
"It matters not. But....... It is worth the risk to the army. Lucent Khormhe will forgive me if my battalion incurs additional losses to bring him victory. We push right!"
The army stopped retreating hesitantly then reformed ranks following their commanders, all eyes reinvigorated, hungry for glory, knowing they would die.
"Soldier" It was the Shah'ten, he'd closed his visor. Kallas could barely tell the youth's age now, just felt the same involuntary shudder of anticipation staring up at that ash coloured armour, the Lucent's glow peeking through the recesses in the plate. "I care not if you are coward but you must tell me how the lines were opened."
Kallas shuddered. He knew what was about to happen. Stories spread about this sort of thing but few believe them. The Lucent's were honourable.
"I......"
"Tell me soldier."
There were tears in the soldier's eyes, hot, anrgy. "I....I just pushed......and they all died."
"I see." It was a knowing tone, almost regretful. The Lucent's sword swept down.
"Crush all who complain!"
- Arkena Wyrnspire
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Vash Warren
SMARTCREW
Smart Deploy
208
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Posted - 2015.06.22 04:18:00 -
[2463] - Quote
Gray, as he had previously agreed to, attended the drawing session with the other heads of state. "Ah, my dear lady Shuri'den ." Gray said in a pleasant voice. "As I promised, my gift I spoke of when I first arrived." He pulled out a bottle of wine from a small wooden chest contacting several more bottles of similar shape and contents. "It may be a bit early, but it is never a wrong time to taste fine Tal-Man drinks." He opened the bottle and poured into three glasses before a servant carried them and offered them to the Angellian present and Shuri'den. Grey looked longingly at Shuri'den, "I wish to discuss future possible trade details... In private if I may, after the drawing session is completed." With a small smile he turned his attention back to the artists and the models as the drawings began.
The slaves moved into the farm area with relative ease and a few new systems had been in placed to fine the most effective way of making the slaves work the hards with the lowest amount of lost assets or lost production capabilities.
Several months after the initial slaving and movement to Pan-Tal-Man farm.
The first a Driver was selected from a group of 25, his job is to see that a set quote is met per day, if it is unmet a random number collating to amount unmet of the members are beaten but he is will never be beaten, but must watch everyone be beaten. Some day as for test purposes are set up to fail.
A second group made of 25, with one selected Driver. If his group fails to met the quote then he is beaten while the other 24 are forced to watch all their failings fall on to him.
The third made up of the remain 20+ are slightly healed and elderly they are given a Driver, with a slightly lower quote, if unmet any or all could suffer beatings for the failure. This will be used as control group.
Caldari Body, Caldari Core, But Amarr with my Soul.
19 Mil SP, Next Adventure. Amarr Assult.
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True Adamance
Praetoriani Classiarii Templares
Praetoria Imperialis Excubitoris
19
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Posted - 2015.06.22 05:22:00 -
[2464] - Quote
In Kysma, after the Skirmish in the East Khorvendi Province
When Kallas awoke it was not to the sounds of the screaming and the dying as he had expected.
It was to the peaceful sounds of steel toed boots in the mud and to slight rattling of spears against breast plates and steel caps as soldiers called out to one another across the open rows of drum angular wind resistant tents that usually comprised the familiar setting of an armed war camp. Similar such camps had been his home for the better part of the last seven years of his life since he has enlisted with the local Lucent and marched to war with all of the other men patriotic young men and women of his village.
Patriotic. His mind railed against the term. Patriotism was not demeaning a soldier in the middle of a battle. Nor was it enjoying the slaughter of your kinsmen. It was not betraying a soldier who brought news of a collapsing enemy flank.
He sighed deeply trying to understand where he was. I looked like a small alcove of am infirmary. The while silken walls of the tent bulged slightly as if to reinforce his suspicions tied together with a black fabric he vaguely recognised though there were no sounds of the wounded, no surgeons demanding additional supplies, no wailing of lovers over the glorified bodies of their dead. He was alone, surrounded by casks of medical supplies and wrapped up neatly into a cot with a mess of bandages fastened firmly across his chest.
He was wounded. The Lucent youth had betrayed him!
He growled in a feral manner.
"Is he awake?" A voice from outside the sable fabric screen. It carried a weight of authority that the spearman knew all to well. A Lucent.
A short staccato burst of conversation erupted from outside the tent as one of the surgeons protested the Lucent's inquiries and forbade him to enter the infirmary. A surgeon dare rebuke a noble, his mind was already reeling. Eventually the surgeon gave in and allowed the stranger access to the infirmary.
Kallas feigned sleep. He barely knew what was going on. Was he still in Khormhe's war camps? Whom had recovered him from the carnage of the field and for what reason.
"Boy." The voice was stern and directed at him, it had an odd lyrical quality, knowingly. "Get up soldier. It is the least you can do for those who have saved your life."
The spearman opened his eyes slightly, jaw dropping with horror. Before him was another Lucent, though this one was distinctly recognisable as arguably the most despised man from the Khorvendi Province, the Vsh'tan Nairn Amharah, the Black Prince of the North, his enemy, and the man who had shattered his army.
He was in typical Kysmal fashion a powerfully built man his greying hair swept back from his forehead carefully and tied back with woven strands of his own hair which a midlength mane of a beard covered his jaw giving him the appearance of one of the steppes leonine, albiet with a rich crimson hue of skin that faintly glowed. He sat before Kallas barechested, covered in scars and bandages, some of which appeared to be from campaigns some decades past while other were still a puckered angry shade of pink.
Kallas shrugged the covered of the cot, gasping breathlessly as he shifted into a seated position as if shards of ice ran through his veins, each breath throbbing painfully. The wound must have deeper than he'd thought if the surgeons had administered the Khrsmaek, a powerful and expensive pain killer. He coughed painfully regarding the bloody spittle that appeared on his hands with an incredulous look.
" It's more than just the Khrsmaek keeping you alive son. It's the Authorities boy, and a fairly elaborate fabricae which had held you together thusfar. I've commited the investment to keeping you alive after what you did. You have my thanks now that Khormhe's forces have been shattered. We even had to spend days keeping people away from you given how unstable the Authorities were around you."
"What.....what I did?" He said with a sinking feeling.
"Indeed. Your distraction for lack of a better word took the heart out of the army. To think a friendly soldier crushed his army and gave his son a glorious death. You are more than entitled to fair compensation I think."
Panic was rising in Kallas and threatening to overwhelm him. Dark flashed before his eyes, a great pressure within his mind.. "Oh Goddess no...... I didn't mean to...I never wanted him dead. I just didn't want to die!"
"And you won't providing you do the right thing and serve." The warlord grinned smugly. "As one of my Shaper's. In my army."
"Crush all who complain!"
- Arkena Wyrnspire
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Cryptic WarDevil
New Eden Special Operations Group
95
|
Posted - 2015.06.22 18:34:00 -
[2465] - Quote
Spademan wrote:Cryptic WarDevil wrote:Spademan wrote:Cryptic WarDevil wrote:
Gungir laughed and pointed to a lever on the inside, "ye pull this and the floaters underneath intake air while the ones on top expel it, the iron padded bottom side holds you under water while the floaters keep you at a certain level, the higher to lever is, the higher you are, the lower it is, the lower you go, make sense?" He smiled as he waited for either a confused grunt or a sign of amazement.
"Huh" replied Godwin, only managing a single word in a mixture of confusion and amazement. "It is a most fascinating contraption, but what tasks would you imagine it performing?" The latter stumped Godwin, he failed to realise a situation for this admittedly amazing craft to be used in. Perhaps a more experienced sailor would know. It also dawned on him that he should not keep his expedition waiting. "Mainly an exploration tool lad, but if need be, she can be used for war. She's got about 4kilos of explosive bombs in this area" Gungir lifts a metal lid to reveal a number of cluster bombs, floater bombs, and fuse tubes (fuse tubes are EXTREMELY explosive tubes of black powder projected by 2 small cans of yellow salt ((builds enough pressure to blow a closed container into pieces)) placed on either side with small holes in the bottom) which act like torpedoes to an extent. "As well having several observation areas and hatches that ye can use for defense and getting your environment understood." Gungir smiled as he saw something out of one of the scopes. Say lad, ye want to see her in action? " Much of what the Dwarf had said to him was unknown to him. Terms like Cluster Bomb, Floater Bomb, Fuse Tube and Torpedo were all new. While he could deduce the first two the latter were lost to him. "That would be most appreciated, but I'm afraid I have to request a brief demonstration as I must return to my expedition." In Kilerth, Osmarium...The Earl Wulgan Cyneson of Kilerth has passed. Murdered before his time by an unknown assailant. He died childless, and due to events with his brothers in the past the inheritance fell onto his cousin, Coenred Bericson of Dunburgh. He had previously been a Baron and very popular amongst the courts. A devout man with near white hair the inheritance was already secured by his eldest son, while his second would inherit the Barony of Dunburgh. There was little to no resistance to his crowning and he was very outspoken in his hostility to the Paric. His first act as Earl was an order to the Creed. He gave a speech telling them that the would no longer be welcome in Kilerth and tasked couriers with travelling to their known hideouts and giving them official notices requesting their immediate departure.
"Aye this I can tell, well lets get goin!" Gungir threw Godwin in the Turok, closed the hatch, and dove under the water, he chuckled as he saw the amazement on Godwin's face. "Impressive eh? It's rather amazing to see under the waves, and a also a great way to get under a ship" he chuckled and pulled the Turok further down, giving Godwin the control chair "Go on lad, see what she can do, when yer ready just pull up next to yer ship there and hit that lever up to surface this beauty!"
Those who see us as blood thirsty beasts and thieves are blind to the true nature of the Cathay-Raht- King Za'harr
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Spademan
6
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Posted - 2015.06.23 22:47:00 -
[2466] - Quote
Cryptic WarDevil wrote:
"Aye this I can tell, well lets get goin!" Gungir threw Godwin in the Turok, closed the hatch, and dove under the water, he chuckled as he saw the amazement on Godwin's face. "Impressive eh? It's rather amazing to see under the waves, and a also a great way to get under a ship" he chuckled and pulled the Turok further down, giving Godwin the control chair "Go on lad, see what she can do, when yer ready just pull up next to yer ship there and hit that lever up to surface this beauty!"
The contraption was amazing. Godwin had to figure out a way to obtain the knowledge of constructing these, it would do wonders for both his wealth and the kingdom. But it was also disturbing how people from a far off land could build a contraption like this whereas those from his own hadn't even dreamed of the idea. When handed the controls, he piloted the craft somewhat poorly. He had no experience with such a device but at least after watching Gungir he had a rough idea of which knob does what. After some time he located where his ships were and surfaced as close as he dared. He arose from the hatch and waved to the closest. Soon after a small rowboat was sent to greet him and he gave a message to bring back. "Inform the men that they are to dock and deliver the resources and settlers to the eastern-most side of the island. I will meet them there and we shall construct a settlement.
And make sure to tell them that the natives are our friends, no harm should come to them." The sailor did as he was told and the first of the transports made it's way for the harbour.
What're you looking at me like that for? I'll shank you I will.
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True Adamance
Praetoriani Classiarii Templares
Praetoria Imperialis Excubitoris
19
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Posted - 2015.06.23 23:41:00 -
[2467] - Quote
In Skadia, the Coral Tower
Shuri'den found herself quite dwarfed by the Tal-Man ambassador who presented her what to him may have looked to be a small glass of the proffered wine, to her the glass flute was more akin to the size of a bowl. She watched the sketching, sipping at the pungent liquid, noting how oddly insistent the Mur scholars and artists had to be to ensure the Tal-Man models fully disrobed completely to ensure the veracity of the sketches. These Kin'kre had odd notions about propriety and the function of clothing in it's preservation which she found utterly curious considering they found themselves in a culture where no such parallels existed.
"And I shall thank you Ambassador Grey. I should like to try some." The Tal-Man, even the more common amongst them bore and impressive stature and towered in some cases two or more feet over even the talles to the Skadii-an and were significantly broader in terms of body mass. The Angellis on the other hand were slight of build but no less regal and the gaze of many female seemed Mur lingered upon them.
She was unsure what to make of the Angellis though. Her dialogues with Animaya had taken a scholarly focus rather than one in which the essence of their cultures had been exchanged and as such her notions about the pale islanders from the North had not yet fully formed.
Beneath the balcony on which they stood the Mur had finally succeeded in reading the models from the sitting and the artists were already beginning the preliminary sketches. Her's were a people truly fascinated with transitions. The ebb and flow of life and cultures with the focus being on how arrives at the conclusion than the act of arriving there at all. Shuri'den'shalvys dearly loved them all, the Mur that busied themselves in the chamber before them, the Mur who lived in the Isles, those who journeyed far abroad to the South, the North, and the East.
She noted his stare and Animaya's fascination with the processes below, perhaps with was the her innate sense of academia calling out to those of a similar nature or perhaps it was the Authority channeling mechanisms next to her artists that fascinated the woman. Each was a recessed metal sphere set into a central housing that rested on a tripod, it glowed slightly with and artificial light that seemed distinctly out of place in the completely naturally lit tower. A long spindly arm set against a flattened section of parchment worked furiously across the page connecting lines, curves of the body, reinforcing the shading, into the likeness of the models.
" If it would please you then we may speak privately, but not now. Later." She said to Grey, before turning to Animaya. "What do you think? Or is it perhaps you are interested in the Fabricae?"
"Crush all who complain!"
- Arkena Wyrnspire
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Vash Warren
SMARTCREW
Smart Deploy
209
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Posted - 2015.06.30 13:24:00 -
[2468] - Quote
(More to get the ball rolling)
The council decided to find out exactly what the cause was of the Paric infighting and as such sent messengers to the leadership of both groups to get more information on the position they held verses the other and the standing they held. To the Parics.
Hail Paric Leader(s),
It has come to the attention of the Tal-Man Council that serious complication in your territory has occurred resulting in a Civil War. The Council is looking for the greatest possibility of no or as little as possible spreading of the conflict occurring in your lands. We would like as freely as you feel to explain your exact understanding or any other information on the Cauti you would be willing to share. I know our nations are in troubled times but I believe a mended friendship could save the world from war.
Praise the Ancestors, Tal-Man Council.
To Cauti
Hail Cauti Leadership,
We, the Tal-Man Council realize that you have recently formed a overthrow of the current Paric regime and would like you to explain your position to the Tal-Man Council. In such your ideals, what you want from your new government and any other information. We would not like to see war spread across this land like a wild fire, and as such putting out the fires in your land my be key, and we would like to back the stronger side. Which we believe may be you. We await your reply
Praise the Ancestors, Tal-Man Council.
Coral Tower
"Thank you, Shuri'den I believe I have a proposal that could help both of our people out extremely well, but of course later." With that Grey took a large sip from the glass in his hand.
Caldari Body, Caldari Core, But Amarr with my Soul.
20 Mil SP, Next Adventure. Amarr Assult/ Caldari Logi
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Cryptic WarDevil
New Eden Special Operations Group
95
|
Posted - 2015.07.02 18:39:00 -
[2469] - Quote
Spademan wrote:Cryptic WarDevil wrote:
"Aye this I can tell, well lets get goin!" Gungir threw Godwin in the Turok, closed the hatch, and dove under the water, he chuckled as he saw the amazement on Godwin's face. "Impressive eh? It's rather amazing to see under the waves, and a also a great way to get under a ship" he chuckled and pulled the Turok further down, giving Godwin the control chair "Go on lad, see what she can do, when yer ready just pull up next to yer ship there and hit that lever up to surface this beauty!"
The contraption was amazing. Godwin had to figure out a way to obtain the knowledge of constructing these, it would do wonders for both his wealth and the kingdom. But it was also disturbing how people from a far off land could build a contraption like this whereas those from his own hadn't even dreamed of the idea. When handed the controls, he piloted the craft somewhat poorly. He had no experience with such a device but at least after watching Gungir he had a rough idea of which knob does what. After some time he located where his ships were and surfaced as close as he dared. He arose from the hatch and waved to the closest. Soon after a small rowboat was sent to greet him and he gave a message to bring back. "Inform the men that they are to dock and deliver the resources and settlers to the eastern-most side of the island. I will meet them there and we shall construct a settlement. And make sure to tell them that the natives are our friends, no harm should come to them." The sailor did as he was told and the first of the transports made it's way for the harbour.
"So lad, how do ya like yer new toy? Think she'll be of use to ya?" Gungir asked with a smirk as he watched the fish through the glass. "I think she'll be better off for scouting rather than war but she can take a beatin if she has to, take care of her, and if you deem it worthy for your needs, send word and I'll get started on another one, alright lad?"
Back on Cy-Rath King Za'harr was busy crafting a device to glide with, possibly for scouting and having competition, the final design will be finished in approximately 12 cycles
Those who see us as blood thirsty beasts and thieves are blind to the true nature of the Cathay-Raht- King Za'harr
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Jonny D Buelle
Mors Effera
1
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Posted - 2015.07.02 22:25:00 -
[2470] - Quote
Mar'Thal, the Hidden Village
3 Months After the Tal-Man Invasion
It had been three months since the Tall Ones had invaded Artugia and stole her people. Since then, Bloody Jon, the Great Leader of Artuga, had sent his son, Lur, to the rough skins to appeal for their aid. No word has returned to Jon about his son's journey.
The Mur-Folk, known by some Artugians as the Ones from the Sea, had shown them basic ship building techniques which brought great joy to the Artugians as they had longed to travel the seas. The Artugians ships were crude and cruel looking with an Artugian skeleton in place of the figured head, and cured flayed Artugian skins for sails.
After a month of the Tal-Ones arrived and enslavement, they returned to Mihal to retrieve certain treasures, including the Throne of Skulls, and take them back to Mar'Thal. After two months, they lost some of the children to the Blood Rite.
Bloody Jon sat on the Throne of Skulls and tapped a claw on one of the skulls. Before him stood Oran, the leader of the Cursed Ones, a tribe that splintered from the Artugians almost 200 years ago. Oran's people were all marked as cursed, with intricate patterns and designs carved into their flesh. Oran himself was a peculiar looking Artugian. He stood a few inches taller than most, his shoulders were broader and he had more muscles than the rest. Where other Artufuans let their hair flow freely, his was rolled into a neat little bun.
"So, the Great Leader wishes us who are called Cursed to rejoin the tribe of Durna, and become one?" asked Oran.
"Aye, the Tall Ones stole our people, Oran. The Ones of the Sea have shown us the way to cross the seas. We may use this and retrieve our people." Jon spoke softly and carefully. He did not want to anger this Artya. He needed his help, and, more importantly, he needed his people.
"We, are not your people. We were exiled for being cursed by your Ancestor. We have no people in Durna."
Jon rose from the throne and slowly approached Oran. "Do you believe that? Truely do you? Were we not be cousins if your Ancestor was not cursed? Do you hear the call of the ancestors and how they weep or our people as you sleep? I see your soul through your eyes, Oran, and I know your answer."
Oran looked down and smiled. "They said you were wise. Wise yet naive. As if an ancestor were reborn in a youngling. Pitiful." He looked Jon right in the eye and said, "If you wish to lead my people then I challenge you to Durna."
The Artugians that had gathered around them gasped and even the cursed ones mutter amongst themselves.
Jon smiled, "I would accept, however you are Curses and so not have the privileges to chal-"
"But I am not cursed, oh Great Leader. I ate my sisters heart during my Blood Rite. I am Artugian of the Cursed Ones."
Jon looked down. He was hoping to avoid this. He could fight this Artya, but his leg hadn't healed properly and he would be unarmed so his staff would not be by his side. However if he refused the challenge he would be dishonoured and disgraced. He was better off dead.
Jon sighed then cut his palm open with his claws, and held up the bloodied hand to Oran. "I accept your challenge, Oran. May the Ancestors watch over us."
Give me my Plasma Flamethrower or give me a cookie!
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True Adamance
Praetoriani Classiarii Templares
Praetoria Imperialis Excubitoris
19
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Posted - 2015.07.02 23:09:00 -
[2471] - Quote
In Skadia The Coral Tower [Ending Scene]
Mid-way through the sitting Animaya found it too restricting up on the raised balcony where Shuri'den'shalvys and the Tal-Man Ambassador Grey stood and excused herself to look at the Fabricae and make her own personal inquiries into the anatomical etchings being compiled.
Convinced of their privacy she turned to the hulking Tal-Man, holding the comically oversized glass in two hands. "We are alone. You mentioned a proposition."
Three Months Later...... in Mar'Thal
"It's an abomination" Shu'm said quietly looking at the first of several Artugian vessels, the skeletal remains of a long deal ancestor tied proudly to the bow of the vessel in some cruel and profane imitation of an figurehead. "We did not teach them this.....how does this vessel have a spirit of its own? How can it sail over seas if the remains of a land-walker on its prow has no heart?"
Even Sia'tri was physically repulsed by the examples of craft the Artugians paraded so proudly across the waves of the shallow coves on which they'd initially been taught to sail. He shared the same look that all of his kin had upon discovering how the Artrugians had crafted the prototypes of their own ships. One of sadness and inexorable hurt.
"Yes. It is wrong." He growled turning away from them. "But it's their way...... It's what they choose to do with this knowledge that will determine our responsibilities to the Artugians."
With that the pair set off for the city of Mar'Thal. In the three months since their arrival they had acclimatised to the heights of the city and established a rope pulley system from bringing the Mur up into the city limits however despite this innovation the Artugians still leapt from tree to tree and refused to use the liters.
Perhaps the Greatclaw would be able to explain himself to them.
Em shah tey et naGÇÖemsaer ek rahvi, amarr osedah gasi ubday pahk. Ekin tey vahka ijed div ema ziel. Et tey vamatal em.
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True Adamance
Praetoriani Classiarii Templares
Praetoria Imperialis Excubitoris
19
|
Posted - 2015.07.03 00:45:00 -
[2472] - Quote
In Kysmal, the Eastern Khorvendi Province
In the three months since his army had been shattered by the northern forces and heGÇÖd been made a captive of the invading forces, of VshGÇÖtan Nairm Ahmarah, Kallas had never felt freer that he did not being escorted towards the commanded tents by the VshGÇÖtanGÇÖs own personal guard.
The sound of steel shod boots in the mud was reassuring as no other sound ever had been, the clattering of spear and pike against breast plates, and the roars of approval as the red-skinned soldiers sat around the lyrical compositions of GÇÿA Lass Not Forgotten.GÇ¥
He had to admit that being in one of the city-like stationary warcamps was a reassuring feeling. Each one had a unique feel but was functionally the same. Each such war camp was broken down into districts where the centre most were home to camp followers, wives, children, and craftsmen, ringed entirely by separate military districts assigned to companies that would police their own areas.
The camp followers and craftsmen usually received Shaper support in setting up permanent dwellings, hewing entire buildings from the basalt spires that rose up from the plateauGÇÖs, which often times became the focus point for more developed townships or return points for armies as they moved from one battle to the next.
Meanwhile disciplined rows of massive barrack-tents the colour of damp ashes, held together with crimson twine, and ringed the encampment supported by secondary drum like structures that typically housed married offices of higher rank.
Nearly twenty feet beyond them lay the Stormwall, arguably the most important part of the encampments forming a vast wind breaker comprised of angled walls of jagged earth around the tents, meeting at a central point on the windward side of the camp. Part fortification, part practical the lands of Kysmal were scarred by such iconic land marks.
HeGÇÖd initially been set up in a small tent on the leeward side of the encampments. At one point heGÇÖd thought it a cruel form of punishment, perhaps they wished him to die alone from exposure or be blown away by one of the violent storms that ravaged the lands outside of the protective arms of the plateaus.
Instead heGÇÖd come to realise that the measure was one of pragmatism rather than cruelty.
His Authorities were out of control. They had fluctuated beyond his control sending powerful waves of energy radiating from his body that often times collapsed his tent or snuffed out his struggling fires which took hours in the cold to relight.
To bring that into the camps would invite discord. And discord was the bane of a soldierGÇÖs life.
HeGÇÖd eventually been able to control them though, to a point.
Left to more or less fend for himself heGÇÖd taken to practicing with his spear and with the twin blade that Nairn Amharah had presented him though he refused to touch the ashen armour that had formerly belonged to his former HighLucentGÇÖs son.
He quickly discovered the energies manifested themselves when he grew restless and could be suppressed simply by following the standard routine that had been his entire life in the army. Wake, Run, Spearwork, Run, Sleep.
Simple as it sounded it proved enough to be the key to at least preventing the Authorities manifesting themselves in more destructive ways as they had in his previous battle. He remembered little enough of the conflict though, only that somehow heGÇÖd been able to push away an entire platoon of heavily armed Highborn and a Lucent.
After three months of isolation as the army weathered the second storm season of the year he finally felt well enough, both physically with his wound healing more rapidly now leaving him a scar that many Ksymal found attractive, and mentally having worked through the sense of guilt at his inadvertent betrayal.
Nairn Amharah had been more than patient enough with him and was only too happy to oblige his request for a meeting, sending a half dozen of her personal guard to collect him. Kallas had been sure to exhaust himself that morning however, running twice his normal distances.
When he met the VshGÇÖtan he was surprised to see the man fully armoured in his plate, and towering over the other attending Kysmal. Some poor bastard had challenged him to a duel.
Em shah tey et naGÇÖemsaer ek rahvi, amarr osedah gasi ubday pahk. Ekin tey vahka ijed div ema ziel. Et tey vamatal em.
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Jonny D Buelle
Mors Effera
1
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Posted - 2015.07.03 06:18:00 -
[2473] - Quote
...Mar'Thal
The skulls were placed on the ends of staffs and carried to the center of the village, half carried by the Artugians of Durna and the rest carried by the Cursed Ones.
Oran lead the Cursed, his hair now flowing freely in the wind. His rough leather vest had been removed as well as his loin cloth, revealing more of the intricate marked that had been carved into his skin.
Across from Oran, Bloody Jon lead the Artugians of Durna. He, like Oran, had removed his leather harness prior to the march as well was his loin cloth. Though he bore no markings, Jon's skin was marked with scars and bite marks, all evidence of how he earned the title "Bloody".
The two groups met in the center and both Oran and Jon raised their hands to the sky and let out a bestial scream. As they screamed, the skull bearers placed the skulls in a circle around the two of them. From one of the houses, an elderly Artyee walked slowly towards the group. She was not cursed, however her skin was marked with the same marks as a Cursed One. She entered the circle and stood at the center. She raised her hands and all the Artugians from both tribes knelt and lowered their heads. She then started to speak in a low harsh voice:
"For centuries, our people lived as one, until K'lo forced the cursed away from us. Thus we are two. Now the tall ones steal from our people and we must unite. However we need only one leader. Oran, son of Glorm. Jon, son of Noj. One of you must die so that we may all live to bring vengeance to those who steal our people."
She then cut open her hands. As the blood flowed from her hands, she placed the left on Oran's head and the right on Jon's head. Then she started to chant in an old forgotten language. The chant started off slow and quiet then began to quicken and grow louder until she was screaming.
As she chanted, her body started to shake and the sky darkened. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head and oddly shaped lights started to appear in the darkness. The lights soon came together and formed a silhouette of an Artugian. The apparition pointed at the elderly Artyee and a deep voice sounded throughout the forest, saying "You."
As light returned to the village, the elderly Artyee was nowhere to be seen. In her place stood a beautiful young Artyee with hair that glowed white, glowing blue eyes and markings that glowed white. She was naked and her face bared a resemblance to the elderly Artyee.
She spoke to them, but with what seemed like two voices instead of one: "Rise Jon. Rise Oran. I am K'lo. I have chosen this vessel so I may bare witness. Fix my mistake. Unite our people." K'lo then exited the circle and sat on the Throne of Skulls, then shouted "Begin!"
Oran howled as he rushed towards Jon, who decided to stand his ground. As Oran fell upon him, Jon attempted to side step and knock him to the ground, as he had done to many of his challengers in the past. However, his leg hadn't healed properly and did not move as quick as he hoped, and Oran struck him in the side with his elbow, knocking the wind from him.
Jon doubled over and prepared to strike. He lunged at Oran, but Oran dodged to Jon's weak side and struck him back of his head with an open palm, forcing him face first into the ground.
Oran began to laugh and grabbed Jon. He picked him ip and started to squeeze him with both arms. "And so, you die Bloody Jon," he said. "And I, Oran, shall lead Artugia!"
Jon struggled to free himself but every time he tried, Oran squeezed harder. He could feel his bones breaking and he knew he would die soon. So in a desperate move to survive, Jon head butted Oran twice. The first time he broke Oran's nose, the second time he sunk his teeth into Oran's thick muscular neck. Jon snarled like a beast as he used his teeth to rip flesh and muscle from Oran's neck.
His plan worked. Oran let Jon go and pushed him off of his neck. He then grabbed at the open wound as blood poured from it. Jon stayed where he was, trying to catch his breath.
Moments later, Oran fell down and Jon was upon him. He grabbed Oran's head and twisted until he heard a snap. He then dug his claws into Oran's chest and ripped out his heart and consumed it. K'lo, the ancestor, nodded in approval.
Give me my Plasma Flamethrower or give me a cookie!
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Spademan
6
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Posted - 2015.07.04 00:00:00 -
[2474] - Quote
Cryptic WarDevil wrote:
"So lad, how do ya like yer new toy? Think she'll be of use to ya?" Gungir asked with a smirk as he watched the fish through the glass. "I think she'll be better off for scouting rather than war but she can take a beatin if she has to, take care of her, and if you deem it worthy for your needs, send word and I'll get started on another one, alright lad?"
Back on Cy-Rath King Za'harr was busy crafting a device to glide with, possibly for scouting and having competition, the final design will be finished in approximately 12 cycles
"Most impressive, though I don't trust myself to get it back to shore in one piece, would you mind returning to the village?"
Cy'rath, Kings Blood
The first of the Osmar transport ships docked and from it marched out a regiment of soldiers. Well disciplined and trained, the moved as one unit and created walls of men on each side of the path that led off the dock and east out of the village. The sun glistened off their armour and their firearms were presented and held upright while their swords and axes dangled from their waists. Once they were in position more Osmar departed carrying lumber and other resources brought with them.
With each group that set out with resources a tenth of the guards went to escort them. The ship had soon swapped out for the second which carried the majority of the resources until that too was depleted. The final ship arrived with the settlers, the brave men and women who volunteered, or were coaxed, to make their new homes in a foreign land. Sir Aelfgar, the knight sent by the Earl of Crasmere, was among the last to depart along with his 10 men. He slowed his pace, examining the town and it's inhabitants before catching up with the rest.
Kilerth, Osmarium
The new Earl was received well, and with news of Paric unrest there were calls among lesser nobles for war while they were weakened. Unfortunately, he had no cause for war. No reason to present to his people or other leaders. To rectify this issue he sent his Chancellor on a mission to fabricate on claim on Corpselight and its surrounding region, to create false documents that prove the land should rightfully be under his control and thus allow an opportunity to attack.
In private circles it was known that he harboured an intent to usurp the kingdom. To do so he needed the support of the other Earls and get their word that if the current Queen refuses a request to abdicate they would join him in a war for the throne. He had virtually all of his Barons in agreement as refusal could easily be punished. He opened negotiations with Earl Cenred of Howe, appealing to his displeasure at the lack of expansion by the Queen. It's a long process, but the first steps are taken.
What're you looking at me like that for? I'll shank you I will.
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True Adamance
Praetoriani Classiarii Templares
Praetoria Imperialis Excubitoris
19
|
Posted - 2015.07.05 23:38:00 -
[2475] - Quote
On the High Northern Seas.....
Tammari'sen had to admit that being in a mated pair was not so bad. She still retained the freedom and influence of her position as a Daughter and found that Man'tiel was a particularly undemanding partner as the wounds he had sustained in combat began to heal.
In the weeks following she had led the crews on several more raids against independent foreign vessels and even against two Skadi-an merchant ships out of Burtgun the losses from which had forced her to consolidate the crews from four ships into three and at Man'tiels order scuttled one the oldest vessel, the Riptide, off of the coast of Blood Raider coast line.
Upon discovering that one of their hauls contained tithes to the Shalvian Princess from their homeland the Maelstrom rather audaciously docked by moonlight several miles from the Burtgun inlet and anonymously returned the supplies to the Mur Tradehouses. Even as thieves and pirates no Mur would ever steal from the House of Shalvys, the oceans frowned upon it.
Convinced they held enough to merit and offering they set sail for Ahlar.
On the Southern Continent......
Sia'tri and Shu'm found themselves barred from watching the Durna ceremony by Artugian guardsmen who it seemed since their arrival had adopted crude forms of armour and weapons. This sudden militancy by the formerly primitive people concerned them greatly and they returned to their accommodations in Mar'thal to await the Greatclaw's return.
Off the coast of Kysmal.....deck of the Flagship Cloudburst
Fleet Commander Welkin looked out across the field of battle with a mixture of disgust and guilt. The Kysmal had tried to leave their shores again and had paid a heavy price for their folly. The Redskinned brutes had finally deployed a small armada of six large vessels against them heavily manned by warriors with spear and breast plate.
It was almost remarkable how tenacious these people were, how industrious their society could be if their focus wasn't solely on waging war. It was almost regrettable that he had to be here in their waters with the largest detachment of the Skadii-an Fleet policing their waters however it was truly a service to the other Landborn peoples, especially those who valued a true and lasting peace.
Welking dismissed though thoughts however. It was war. These people would not be allowed to leave their homelands if he had any say about it. He turned away leaving the burning remains of the Kysmali fleet to illuminate the night, and their muffled screams as Drowners filled their lungs with sea water and opened their throats beneath the waves.
In Osmarium.....Burtgun
Kalm had sought out the Osmari Chancellor for a very specific reason. The tensions between the Paric and the Tal-man..... including the emergence of this new movement called the Cauti and it was his duty as a representative of the Shalvian peoples that he make the interests of the Mur known to their trade partners.
"Good day Chancellor. It is good of you to take the time to see me again. I come on behalf of Shuri'den'shalvys and the Mur. We are concerned about the destabilisation of the Tal-Man region. We realise this may sound imprudent however we must make our own stance known to you. The Trade Houses in Osmarium represent the largest single importer and exporter of goods to and from the Isles. It also serves as our primary staging point from which we organise our shipping routes bringing in great wealth from tariffs and trade......"
He paused momentarily for the Chancellor to grasp his point.
"The Tal-Man represent a significant investment for my people. In any event our stance is one of neutrality and as such it means the continuation of shipments to and from the region. We however recognise your sovereignty over the port and realise our actions my reflect upon your monarchy. We would know your opinion on the matter."
Em shah tey et naGÇÖemsaer ek rahvi, amarr osedah gasi ubday pahk. Ekin tey vahka ijed div ema ziel. Et tey vamatal em.
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True Adamance
Praetoriani Classiarii Templares
Praetoria Imperialis Excubitoris
19
|
Posted - 2015.07.06 00:44:00 -
[2476] - Quote
In Kysmal.....Eastern Khorvendi Province
As the Highlucent Amharah began to speak Kallas felt a sense of dread rise in the pit of his stomach growing colder and more present with every word like a slap to his face. The heavily armoured Highlucent explained how Khormhe had surrender after a particularly decisive skirmish several days ago and was being brought to trial before the army through a duel. Perhaps worse still Nairn explained that it had been some years since the Highlucent had stopped listening to the directives of the King and had resisted Amharah's attempts to depose the rogue prince and pacify the lands.
Khormhe's lies had made his people rebels and sullied their honour. It was sickening that those who were supposed to be better had failed him and his entire family.
A faint radiance brought on by his Authority burst from his skin, striking Nairn on the breastplate and staggering a few of the guardsmen who levelled their weapons hissing in a threatening manner. The dark haired Prince only grinned.
"Now it would be well within my rights to execute the Highlucent for his crimes....." He mused in a gruff tone, rubbing at the forked beard that extended down from his chin around the plate's gorget. "But that would hardly do the snake a justice.....perhaps I could have a champion represent me?"
Kallas froze. Blinking twice in disbelief at the insinuation.
"Please." He cried, throwing himself to his knees in supplication. " I'll do it. I'll join you army if you let me avenge their honour. My Family, my people's Plateau, those who died for him. Just let me be the one to kill him."
The Vsh'tan looked thoughtfully down at the young Kysmali warrior whose head was pressed to the floor. For a moment he looked about to decline however relented and ordered one of his attendants to make the announcement of the change of opponents.
"For what this is worth boy." He said dismissively. "This will be an honourable bout, Khormhe has a right to his plate and his greatblade as both belonged to him when he turned himself over. You also have plate and a twimblade. We can have it brought if you like or furnish you. What is your choice? greatblade or twim?"
"Neither sir." Kallas offered the Highlucent a sharp salute. He glanced down at his loose fitting black and white ".....I'm proficient with neither..... however if there is one a spear or pike might do. A set of leathers too if nothing else presents."
Almost an hour later Kallas stepped out of the Vsh'tan's tent into a throng of soldiers all of whom glared at him with an undisguised irritation. They had come to see Nairn fight and kill the traitor prince in a battle between nobles. Now they would have to suffer a common soldier of no mentionable rank, one who was likely to die against a man in heavy armour and wielding a six foot long greatblade.
Eventually the throng made way for him allowing Kallas to push his way into a wide circle about ten metres in diameter laid with sand and mixed with ruby and sapphire dust which shot the otherwise drab arena through with veins of red and ocean blue.....it was an arena for a nobleman, not a smith's son.
Standing opposite him as a tower of interlocking steel plates and emanating a slight glow was Highlucent Khormhe. The young spearman felt the anger simply melt away in the face of discipline and focus.
A horn sounded from amidst the roaring crowd. The first of three. A look of shock appeared on the Highlucent's face, then one of recognition and rage.
A second sonorous blast plunged the crowd into silence. Kallas loosened his grip on the spear and shifted into a defensive stance.
The third and final sounding amidst the rhythmic hammering of ends of spears and pike into the ground. The Highlucent charged raising the sword over his head for a downwards strike. This time he was calm as a lucent who swung his blade at him. Once again he pushed.
Em shah tey et naGÇÖemsaer ek rahvi, amarr osedah gasi ubday pahk. Ekin tey vahka ijed div ema ziel. Et tey vamatal em.
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Jonny D Buelle
Mors Effera
1
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Posted - 2015.07.06 21:32:00 -
[2477] - Quote
Mar'Thal
Jon picked up his staff. He had spent the last couple hours with the healers. He had three broken ribs, and a broken arm. His chest was bandaged and his arm was in a sling.
Oran's body was already being disposed of as befits an honored warrior of Artuga. His skin was flayed and left to dry, his meat was stripped from bone and made into food for the people and his oragans were crushed and grinded to make medicine. The Artugians waste nothing.
K'lo, the Ancestor, and Jon walked arm in arm towards the Mur-Folk's housing. She wished to see what the Ones of the Sea looked like and Jon felt he needed to apologize for them being barred from the ceremony. Behind them two guards followed with bladed staffs and plated chest, one was of the Cursed tribe the other of Durna.
As they entered the Mur-Folks place, the guards waited outside and Jon bowed low. "I apologize for the rudeness and for not permitting you to witness Durna. However times are different now and the Ancestors walk amongst us." He gestured to K'lo, who's glowing white hair shined brighter near the Mur-Folk. "This is my ancestor K'lo. She has chosen to walk amongst us once more and wished to meet you."
K'lo looked at the Mur-Folk and studied them. She then approached one and lightly ran her hand across Sia'tri's chest. She giggled and pulled her hand back and spoke with two voices, "Interesting people these Mur-Folk. Full of sea and honor. If only we met during my time as Great Leader, so much we could have accomplished." She cocked her head to the side and said, "You seem worried, Mur-Folk. What troubles you?"
Give me my Plasma Flamethrower or give me a cookie!
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True Adamance
Praetoriani Classiarii Templares
Praetoria Imperialis Excubitoris
19
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Posted - 2015.07.07 01:25:00 -
[2478] - Quote
The Ancestor K'lo was a mystery to the two Mur representatives who could only look on with a mixture of shock and curiosity.
Unlike her kin whose hair was like a dawning sun hers was the opposite like moonlight reflecting off of a serene lake. She spoke with two voices, one that bespoke the weight of years while another that seemed to weave into it as through it were crossing a great distance to do so. She was exquisitely young, though it was a perceptibly unnatural.
She would remind them of their own Shuri'den'shlavys. Possessed of a nature that set her apart from her peers, an inexorable aura of command.
Sia'tri started slightly as the strange looking Artee touched him, carefully so as not to cut him with her poisoned claws, giggling and pulling back as the air left his lungs leaving him short of breath and wide eyed. Shu'm said nothing though by the way he jaw had dropped he too was taken aback by the nature of the two who stood present.
"........" All the Pathfinder would manage.
"........" Shu'm contributed helpfully.
They stared for a few moments longer before they remembers themselves and offered K'lo a traditional Artugian greeting, the bow, the words, they all seemed oddly hesitant as if the two Mur didn't want to stop looking at the Ancestor. After observing the ritual they welcomed the guests into Sia'tri's accommodations. Shu'm reluctantly excused herself from the meeting however, she was to sit with the Artee of the village while they reared their young, leaving Sia'tri, the Greatclaw, and the intimidating K'lo to speak alone.
"It is...... or it was... I...." He started up a the Greatclaw cautiously. "We are troubled by this militancy we have observed amongst your kin. The gift to sail the seas, navigate by the starts, and to discover new lands was given freely and without reservation.....but .... this does little to change how I feel."
Em shah tey et naGÇÖemsaer ek rahvi, amarr osedah gasi ubday pahk. Ekin tey vahka ijed div ema ziel. Et tey vamatal em.
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Jonny D Buelle
Mors Effera
1
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Posted - 2015.07.07 02:16:00 -
[2479] - Quote
K'lo giggled as the Mur greeted her in the Artugian fashion and waited for Sia'tri to finish speaking. She then greeted him in the Mur folk way and smiled at him. "I can see why my descendants like you and your people."
Jon sat down on one of the seats, easing himself into it as not to cause himself too much pain. He then laid his staff across his lap then said. "We are grateful for teaching us how to sail the seas, Sia'tri. More than you know."
He then took a sip of his water skin before saying, "We do not prepare for war but rather revenge. It has been three moons since the Tall Ones, whom you call Tal-Man, stole our people. We Artugians, Cursed, Drishna and Durna, do not forgive easily. However we understand full war will only lead to our destruction.
"We prepare a small force to scout out their land in the cover of darkness and learn from them. Once we know enough we strike at their heart and make them bleed until they return our people."
He sighed deeply and his expression saddened. "However, I do not know if I will be around to see it. In two weeks the Leader of Drishna will arrive with her tribe. They are dishonorable and fight their own with claws. However our people need to be united so I must participate in Durna. My wounds won't be healed by then so I might not survive.
"That is why we summoned K'lo. My word as Great Leader is meaningless once I join the Ancestors however her word speaking mine means more than a thousand great leaders. The next Durna, you may witness."
K'lo kept smiling as Jon spoke, she kept looking Sia'Tri up and down studying him.
Give me my Plasma Flamethrower or give me a cookie!
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True Adamance
Praetoriani Classiarii Templares
Praetoria Imperialis Excubitoris
19
|
Posted - 2015.07.07 03:03:00 -
[2480] - Quote
"Revenge and war in this case are the same thing..... I fear in this endeavour that despite my personal feelings you must stand on your own... we cannot afford to bring a large bulk of our military forces to the mainlands as they are engaged elsewhere."
Sia'tri cleared his throat trying not to acknowledge the fact that the Ancestor was continuing to stare at him.
"However we do have a responsibility to your people now. The oceans were our gift to you and there is aught else that might diminish its value. This means more to us that you might ever understand."
He glanced back at K'lo. He didn't recognise her form the village and felt that he had more or less met with the greater part of the Durna Tribe who lived in Mar'Thal during his three month period between the hidden treetop city and the Skadii-an settlements in the South. Their own progress had advanced rapidly and much of what resembled the early depictions of the Rhen'Ys Harbour Scapes in their foundling days had been constructed in the wide inlets.
Still the Ancestor seemed out of place amongst her kin, the crimson hair had become something of a fascination amongst his people whom found it irresistible, and its absence in K'lo was fascinating. Perhaps she was a new species or step in Artugian maturity that his people had not been exposed to.
Focusing on the matter at hand was difficult with her present. She was very pretty even for an Artugian whom were rather universally considered beautiful by Mur males and females alike though the typical preference was for another of the same specifies. She also appeared young, physically at least he noted appraisingly, and had a silvery white hair. Mur were a somewhat poetic race by their nature, and such parallels as he had made during the first moments of their meeting flashed through his mind.
The whole situation was uncomfortable. Mur he recognised bitterly were particularly poor at concealing how they felt both emotionally as well as physically. Sometimes he loathed how exposed the polymorphism of his species made him feel.
He turned back to the Greatclaw awkwardly. "If there is aught our people here in the Southern Oceans can do for you name it. We owe you that and more for aiding us in our time of need."
Em shah tey et naGÇÖemsaer ek rahvi, amarr osedah gasi ubday pahk. Ekin tey vahka ijed div ema ziel. Et tey vamatal em.
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Vash Warren
SMARTCREW
Smart Deploy
211
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Posted - 2015.07.07 04:40:00 -
[2481] - Quote
The Coral Tower
Grey gave Shuri'den'shalvys a once over look, then a quick glace around to ensure their privacy before he began to speak. "Osmar ships are disappearing in the sea. One or two to go down is no strange occurrence but how many I am lead to believe is way more than the sea-faring race of Osmar to take kindly to losing." He leaned back and sighed before he returned his attention to the Mur. "Now we had pirates before the discovery of you and the Mur but nothing on the scale on ships lost post discovery. Not that we believe it is your people's doing for the increased activity." He gave her a smile that made her know the falseness of his words. "Now there are many things that we do not fully understand but I do believe I know one thing for sure." He knelled down almost the same way as the first greeting and spoke just slightly over a whisper. "You... Deal in slaves." He let the words sink in before he continued speaking. "What ever you call them servants or lowborn or any name you give them. The Tal-Man discovered an entire race of them. Small brute, barbarian, like creatures with skin so pale it appears death is on their face and hair red as a fresh wound. Now I believe in a generation or two it would be possible to begin their trade. You are the closet thing Mur have to a Leader and as such you would Okay or reject the proposal. But opening up trade of this race would pull our nations even closer together in friendship." Grey finished his pitch and proceeded to drink the last of the wine from the average size glass."
Arc-Angel, Tal-Man Capital
In the time after his father retired Yuri made his way up the Tal-Man War Department ranks with ruthless efficiency until he was general second only to the War Minster himself. As a tried and true great tactician of the battlefield and at commanding.
So it came as no surprise when in an emergency Tal-Man High Council Yuri, Second son of Ivan former PM, was granted emergency military and state power at the new threat rising from the Cauti movement. "I am deeply appalled by the underhanded tactics of the Cauti militant group. At this time members of the Tal-Man Nation we must come together and face this front united to liberate the Blood Territory and to put an end to the Cauti and their threat to the world.
Within days Cossack regiments long forgotten in peace times were back in action, while no less effective. They had already begun harassing the Cauti boarder forces. A small amount of State Military forces are being moved over from the west to the south front but most are Private Military Corps. being given the first chance with major contracts. The next few days will see the Tal-Man return for War.
Caldari Body, Caldari Core, But Amarr with my Soul.
20 Mil SP, Next Adventure. Amarr Assult/ Caldari Logi
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Jonny D Buelle
Mors Effera
1
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Posted - 2015.07.07 05:34:00 -
[2482] - Quote
Jon nodded as Sia'tri spoke. "I understand Sia'tri. I would not have your people caught up in this terrible endeavor. However my people will still commit to it. We do not wish war, but something must be done to see my people free.
"In saying that, we shall do what we can to preserve this gift you have given us. We Artugians have always wondered and guessed about what may lay beyond the sea. You have given us such a great gift. So it shall become Blood Law to never spill blood on the sea, unless we are to protect ourselves.
"I only have one request, it is small but is important to me. If I die during the Durna, take my skull and carry it with you so I may see the world beyong the seas. I've always wished to see the lands beyond but I fear it is my fate to die and never set foot on these lands. My soul, however, may still have a chance."
K'lo then spoke up and said "If I may have a request, I wish to meet with the Mur-Folk's Great Leader. Your people are very intriguing. In return I can answer any questions you have about our people, or even about the ancestors."
Give me my Plasma Flamethrower or give me a cookie!
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sir RAVEN WING
No Context
3
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Posted - 2015.07.07 19:53:00 -
[2483] - Quote
"They are attacking from both sides, sir." The Cauti soldier reported.
"Stress level?" The Cauti officer asked referring to the militant stress the border soldiers were under.
"Very little. They can hold the borders for months with relative ease, perhaps even take more land with enough effort."
"Very good. Soon we will push, and take this world for ourselves. You are dismissed."
"Thank you, sir." With that the soldier left the room to the officer and the other figure.
"Zi, I presume you have good news this time, and not another disappointment? You know what happens if you disappoint me again."
"Y-Yes sir. I have news that it is completed, although it requires a magic user to operate." The scientist spoke with noticeable fear.
"Good, very good. Round up as many magic users as you can and train them to use this device. They are what will help us take the world."
Royal Chambers.
"My Queen, there are plans to usurp the throne. The one behind the plans is the earl of Kilerth. The proof is here." Krion held up a letter intercepted on it's way to the earl of Howe, Cenred. "This earl is the one whom pushed out the Creed from Kilerth. He may plan to take the throne to remove the Creed completely from Osmarium."
The bird has flown away for a while. Leave a message at the tone
Gon' Flying, be back soon.
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True Adamance
Praetoriani Classiarii Templares
Praetoria Imperialis Excubitoris
19
|
Posted - 2015.07.07 21:03:00 -
[2484] - Quote
In Mar'Thal......
Sia'tri blinked once looking thoughtful as he turned away from the Artugians. Wishing to meet Shuri'den'shalvys was of to be expected given how often and highly both he and Shu'm had spoken of her to the Artugians upon their meeting though that it were so soon after the two species had come into contact with one another was endearing.
The Artugians seemed a vastly more industrious people than the Mur. Perhaps it was the nature of their lives in the South, short and brutal, that spurred them on to advance.
The Pathfinder cleared his throat before turning back to them.
"I would be honoured to convey to the Isles of mine people Lady Nightstalker... a title of respect to account for your skin and hair.... I mean if the term please you Ancestor." He replied with a certain degree of hesitance. "I shall leave Shu'm to represent our people here and witness the Durna between the Tribes. By your leave Greatclaw we could make sail in a matter of days. A new clipper has been commissioned, swift and able to convey a small crew across the continental seas, it only requires but a few more days of the spiritbond before it can sail."
He turned to K'lo, looking past her.
"Does this sound agreeable Lady Nightstalker? I would greatly like to show you my homeland and you would be most welcome in Shuri'den'shalvys domain."
Em shah tey et naGÇÖemsaer ek rahvi, amarr osedah gasi ubday pahk. Ekin tey vahka ijed div ema ziel. Et tey vamatal em.
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Jonny D Buelle
Mors Effera
1
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Posted - 2015.07.07 21:50:00 -
[2485] - Quote
K'lo giggled when Sia'tri called her 'Nightstalker'. "Of course this pleases me. Seeing your land will bring me great joy," she said smiling.
Jon reached for his water skin again. The medicine the healers had given him left his mouth dry and did little for his pain. As he drank deeply from the skin, one of the guards burst through the door, he bowed and said, "Pardon my intrusion One of the Sea, however our Great Leader is needed at once. Drishna has come earlier than expected."
Jon nodded then rose slowly, using his staff as support. "Apologies, friend Sia'tri, but I must attend to this. Hopefully we may talk again before I meet the ancestors."
As he exited the building, Jon was greeted by a group of Artugians that wore leather hoods to hid their faces. A young Artyee approached Jon and removed her hood. Her eyes were black and her face was covered in scars.
"Morya, it has been to long," said Jon.
Morya looked Jon up and down. She turned her back on him and approached the Throne of Skulls. "You are weak Great Leader," she said as she sat down. The Artugians around her started to shout curses and made rude gestures as she sat down. Jon raised his staff in the air to silence the crowd. "There will be no Durna!" Morya shouted. "Bloody Jon is weak and unfit to lead. He will not survive the Durna. I, Morya, Leader of Drishna, will lead our people against the Tall Ones!"
Jon stamped his staff in the ground and shouted back, "You dare **** on our traditions? Our way of life?! This is how we Artugians have been since the Blood Laws were created. Laws which your kind breaks. Had we not need of your aide you would of never set foot into Mar'Thal!"
Jon then ripped his bandages off and took his sling off. "This is our way! Now meet me in Durna, oh daughter of Drishna! And let's let the ancestors decide who shall lead."
"If you wish to die Jon, then so be it. Prepare yourself, oh Great Leader. You have one hour."
Give me my Plasma Flamethrower or give me a cookie!
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True Adamance
Praetoriani Classiarii Templares
Praetoria Imperialis Excubitoris
19
|
Posted - 2015.07.07 22:08:00 -
[2486] - Quote
Three Months Ago...... In the Coral Tower....
For the first time since their meeting the Mur-woman's features twisted and darkened into something that one might describe as awesome rather than beautiful. It was as if there was a storm behind her brow that reflected in her eyes, the iridescent changes in shade becoming more tumultuous as her fins along her fore arms and legs sharply flared.
" I understand." She said harshly. "This..... piracy is a direct concern of my people as the Seas belong to us, we too have had reports of ships lost with all hands drowned. Though I feel I must make it clear to you Ambassador Grey that my people would appreciate a discrete approach to any further inquiries you make in regards to this issue.....that being said I shall look into it. Little happens on or beneath the waves that we do not hear of."
She paused a moment mulling over the Kin'Kre's words of this new and previously undiscovered people. She understood very little of Land-walker concepts though the words themselves seemed to make sense. Slavery neither made spiritual nor practical sense in the Isles given the Skadii-an Passions and to have one create in place of another yielded no personal development or glory as a craftsman. Within the Isles no Mur was beholden to any by law though respect and service were given freely to the line of Shalvys.
However this was not wholly true. Within the arms of the Covenant of Vinnetir a priestess might claim the life of a captive for their god through it was not a commonly practised observance, and one that dated back to the times where the Maelstrom and it's Herald crossed oceans of the world. Not being one of Vinnetir's disciplines even Shuri'den'shalvys herself have little idea what kind of treatment the Daughters of Vinnetir would subject one they had claimed to.
"How did you come by these..... barbarians?" She asked, reasserting a measure of her previous composure. " If I should find your proposal agreeable then perhaps in time and after I have consulted with the Harbour Masters we might consent to an exchange."
Em shah tey et naGÇÖemsaer ek rahvi, amarr osedah gasi ubday pahk. Ekin tey vahka ijed div ema ziel. Et tey vamatal em.
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True Adamance
Praetoriani Classiarii Templares
Praetoria Imperialis Excubitoris
19
|
Posted - 2015.07.07 22:26:00 -
[2487] - Quote
In Mar'Thal......
Sia'tri nodded and followed John to the Throne of Skulls, watching with trepidation how the two argued, eventuating in a challenge for Durna. Though the two Mur leaders of the expedition had initially been barred from watching the previous Durna it was clear from Jon's wounds that it would undoubtedly end with something as barbaric as trial by combat or self mutilation.
More pressing was that unlike previous encounters Jon would be disadvantaged against the poisonous claws of an Artyee.
"You cannot mean to do this Greatclaw! Your wounds have barely closed let alone healed from your previous conflicts..... and losing either you or the Artyee with only serve to weaken your people not bring them together. Elect a champion to stand in your stead, a loyal Artugian better suited to combat, or forgo the trial and live to fight with your people."
[Next post will be determined by Jon's answer to this post]
Em shah tey et naGÇÖemsaer ek rahvi, amarr osedah gasi ubday pahk. Ekin tey vahka ijed div ema ziel. Et tey vamatal em.
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Jonny D Buelle
Mors Effera
1
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Posted - 2015.07.07 22:43:00 -
[2488] - Quote
Mar'Thal
Jon place a hand on Sia'tri's shoulder and smiled. "Thank you for your concern my friend, however this is the only path to ensure my people survive."
Jon then started to walk towards his hut and motioned for Sia'tri to follow. "You see, we believe that we must fight our own battles or else the victory would be hollow and meaningless. If my champion wins the Durna, it will poison the minds of my people and cause distrust, this must not happen.
"If I was to hand over leadership to Morya, those who follow me will not be completely loyal to her. I would also be branded a coward and it would be better for me to throw myself off the edge of the city."
They stopped outside his hut where Ria, his wife waited. "Now if you would excuse me, I would like to lay with my wife one last time. You are a good friend Sia'tri."
Give me my Plasma Flamethrower or give me a cookie!
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True Adamance
Praetoriani Classiarii Templares
Praetoria Imperialis Excubitoris
19
|
Posted - 2015.07.07 23:28:00 -
[2489] - Quote
In the Coral Tower....... Present Day......
"What of these Cauti Adelya? Tell me of their recent activities." Shuri'den'shalvys lounged back in her high backed chair of lightning pink coral, an arm streaming long trails of highly oxygenated blood extended into the gaping maw of Tsh'ehlu, the enormous Gods-kin that inhabited the upper reaches if the Coral Tower. "It is my understanding they bar us passage to Tal-Man proper."
Adelya had presented herself that morning, armoured in her traditional scale sub-ligar, at her matriarch's request to relay the specifics of the Cauti occupation of Tal-Man Lands and now stood to attention on the smaller of the two islands that comprised the throne room. Mote of bio-luminescent light, the spirit leavings of long passed Lant-rays and the swaying fronds of the oceanic seaweeds almost seemed to reached out for them.
To say that their occupation had disrupted trade between the two nations was an understatement as the coastal regions now belonged to the rebellion in earnest forcing the Mur merchants to either circumnavigate the continent itself to the Northern coastline or traverse Osmarium in slow moving horse drawn carriages.
"It is as you say Shuri'den'shalvys." The female warrior remarked bitterly. "While they haven't openly initiated hostilities they command the Southern regions of what was Tal-Man. Our merchants find no access to through their territories unhindered in in the chaos of the conflicts several such caravans have been lost along the inland routes."
"What of the North? Do we still have anchorage? And please, stand at ease Adelya for Goddesses sake."
The warrior shifted her stance, dropping the axes so that it's pommel was against the floor and her hands rested across the weapons broad, and elegantly curvaceous head. She looked troubled and lines seemed to he carved into her brow as she pursed her full lips.
"Of course Lady Shalvys, none dare bar our passage to the North. With Kal'm and the Tempest in Burtgun and our own fleets now making their presence known in patrolling the oceans South of the Continental Drift there has been nothing to hinder them.....but My Lady the passage north is long and circuitous...."
Shuri'den nodded her understanding. "As you say.....what of our other inquiries."
"The Piracy? Aye we have made certain discoveries. One of our own military patrol vessels was sunk, all hands lost not but a fortnight past. All hands drowned, throats slit, the keel of the boat was discovered some miles down current and was burnt beyond recognition save for the figure head."
The Skadii-an leader leaned forward curiously.
"It's bowspirit was gone......" Adelya trailed off letting the insinuation hang between then awkwardly.
"I see. It leaves us with two possibilities. Either we speak of piracy with intent to implicate the Covenant, and unlikely scenario at best given the Land-walker's lack of understanding, or that someone has invoked the Maelstrom. That matter aside for now, how do you appraise the stability of the main land?"
A pause stretched out between the two women. Adelya found it very hard to find her voice. One one hand the situation was becoming increasingly more dire with news of the Cauti striking out against the Osmari with some kind of aetheric weapon, while on the other hand Shuri'den, one of her oldest friends, was contemplating military action against a foreign power.
"Tenuous at best Lady. They change the shape, and not for the better. How long before they have the audacity to think they can defy the edicts of the sea?"
"How then should we move against them?"
"If we must take action then I suggest we furnish Kal'm in Osmarium with a token force. You might remember him Lady, a Tideshaper of some considerable talent whom has represented our interests in Burtgun. As long as it is no more than a cohort in size I doubt the Osmari would refuse us that . Water way permitting such a force could cross into Tal-Man to harass the Cauti lines in a matter of days. We should contact both of our trade partners and offer them our support."
Adelya looked thoughtful a moment.
"As for the South...... I fear the situation may become more complicated."
Em shah tey et naGÇÖemsaer ek rahvi, amarr osedah gasi ubday pahk. Ekin tey vahka ijed div ema ziel. Et tey vamatal em.
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True Adamance
Praetoriani Classiarii Templares
Praetoria Imperialis Excubitoris
19
|
Posted - 2015.07.07 23:54:00 -
[2490] - Quote
In Mar'Thal...... the Drishna Encampment
Sia'tri had left the Throne of Skulls as soon as the Greatclaw had left his sight hurrying after the hooded Artugians whom claimed to be from some other tribal group, the Drishna. He found them before they had returned to their encampment following the familiar pathways of the hidden city before two large Artya stopped him short of their leader, the scarred female called Morya.
He stepped back as the Artya bared their claws in a menacing fashion, however the action was a mere bluff, Artugians found it distasteful to sully their own claws with blood in battle. Likely this was merely a precaution, one designed to cow him as well as respond to a species they had never seen before.
Instead of challenging them he bowed in what he had been taught was the custom of the people.
"Lady Redshroud....for your hair and your veil.... I am Sia'tri, One of the Sea as your kind have taken to calling my kin and I. I beseech you, beg you to renounce the challenge to Durna. What honour could you hope to glean in fighting against a wounded man." He said firmly addressing the leader. " Either you shall die and be remembered as a fool amongst the Ancestors or you shall win your authority on the merits of other Artugians. I had hoped Jon would realise the sense in a mutual alliance of tribes...... Consider it Lady Redshroud to preserve the strength of your people."
He stared directly at her, challenging.
"I have but one more thing to say. Regardless of who triumphs if my people should suffer any harm, we will take back that which we have given unto him. Never again with your descendent fetch water from the rivers unassailable nor shall the skins of your fallen ever be cured by the salt of the seas, for they belong to us. We will teach you to fear what lies beneath the waves once more."
With that he returned to the central areas of Mar'Thal to wait for the Durna challenge, perhaps K'lo would be able to talk sense into the contenders.
Em shah tey et naGÇÖemsaer ek rahvi, amarr osedah gasi ubday pahk. Ekin tey vahka ijed div ema ziel. Et tey vamatal em.
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