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 Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 3:13 pm
"What if he is looking for something," Mwako'Damu said aloud, looking to all others. If any lion came saying they were an ambassador, they would not be attacked unless they provoked such a situation. "Or someone?" a target? Was this captive, Miah, the name, just a ploy?
Too many possibilities.
But the chance to question a nergui would not be something Mwako'Damu could jsut easily pass up.
Bring them he thought, narrowing his eyes, let us see what they truly are, mindless, careless fools or cruel beasts.
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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 11:13 pm
AkaneNews of the death surprised her. Really it shouldn't have. Sooner or later when two groups tested each other, someone had to die. Akane regreted that it had been a lioness with cubs. Her ears laid back as another tried to explain what the foreign words meant. She was definately not a part of them!
Her attention was drawn back as a black and white lion appeared. A situation? She leaned forward intently. A Nergui imposter! Akane stiffled a growl with her eyes narrowed. Why would they want the release of a prisoner? She snorted at the sarcasm from No. An ambassador? Though she did voice a growl when it was ordered he be brought to the meeting. This was for Firekin and Allies only. The Regents wouldn't be as well protected. Akane hardened her expression. She'd keep an eye on him too.
PlamenFor a moment he was worried his father had come to make him leave. He purred deeply as Heti nudged him and answered him. Plamen puffed out his chest for guessing right about the Nergui. "We can take them down father," he said the cubby confidence. He made a note to ask his father about the other lions later.
As quickly as his confidence came, it went when an angry lion spoke of a death. He leaned close to Heti for comfort. Looking up he whispered really quietly, "you won't die will you?" Of course his father wouldn't die, he tried to reassure himself.
His jaw dropped open as another lion joined and said there was a situation. What was it?! What was it?! A Nergui lion here! Plamen bounced on his paws eagerly. No said to bring him here! Excitedly he put his paws on his father's leg as he stood on his hind legs. "I get to see one!" He would be eager to tell his siblings who weren't here as far as he knew.
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Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 7:10 am
While Elcca couldn't argue Morag's point... she still had a hard time shaking off the odd feeling about it all. They already had Miah- that was their suicide trooper. Why send another? Was it over the attack that had occurred? Or in response to their spying? Surely if any diplomatic relations were going to be established between them, they would have already done so with Miah. And they wouldn't have caused a skirmish on the borders.
The seeress rolled her shoulders, deseating Yoan in the process. At the very least it was exciting. Hopefully this ambassador would deliver. It wouldn't be worth being interrupted if it wasn't!
"I forgive you," she said towards Hraga. The young male didn't seem to get the warning, but smiled apprehensively all the same.
"We'll be back shortly," he said to the others. With a quick bow for his mom, he lead the small group out of the council hall and towards where the nergui ambassador was being kept in holding.
But once they were out of earshot, he slowed his pace. "This ambassador seems like a capable lion. He doesn't seem tired from the trip. If we bring him before the others, he can't be allowed to escape and do some sort of harm," Hraga said. For a moment he seemed slightly apprehensive. A rarity on the brazen lion's face. "My parents...are used to fighting, but I don't think they really think anyone would try to attack them. I just...don't want to regret not killing him on the spot."
"With so many lions gathered, any attack would be short lived and unwise," Yoan said. He took to the air, skirting around the group.
"I do not think the nergui care much for wisdom," Hraga sighed. Up ahead, they could already make out the shapes of Armada, Tarsa, some other guards and an unfamiliar black lion.
Halfway there, Elcca stopped dead in her tracks.
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Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 8:14 am
Nawvlee was invested in the entire campaign against the Nergui but lately he had held back, keeping quiet and observing how the Firekin functioned as they worked. The news of a captured ambassador interested him, though, so he came out of the shadows to get a better look at what was going on. He wouldn't come alone, though, keeping Roho close by with him. He depended a lot on having her around with him now, it made him feel more confident even while staying out of the middle of goings-on to have someone around he trusted so completely.
"Interesting," he muttered to her.
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Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 8:19 am
Plan or not, Azar'bijan was not going to be unprepared. With a low growl and without even asking, he leapt up onto one of the lower platforms that No and Kidondo were sat upon and placed himself in 'covering position'. If any damned Nergui wanted to get to their regents they would have to get through him first. His tail lashed from side to side before settling around him as he seated himself again.
Just let anyone tell him to stay back. Just let them try.
Across the way, his son, Heti gave a short sigh and turned back to Plamen. This had been a dangerous time to have children and he worried for them greatly. But he couldn't protect them by keeping them tucked away in their dens. Even if he had wanted to do that, Armada wouldn't have liked it - or so he believed. The cub was safe here surrounded by his kin. No one would let anything happen to him. "That, I do no doubt." He replied with a brief smile. "You have the blood of guards in you." He continued. "Have no fear, Plamen. I won't die. Not for a long, long while at least." And he patted him gently on the back with his paw.
He was both nervous and curious about what was going to happen. "Remember, son." He warned. "They are lions of trickery. We'll have to keep a close eye on him - make sure he isn't plotting anything. See, your grandfather is already here, ready to protect the regents from harm."
Roho, slinking up to keep close to her 'leader's' side, gave a short nod. Her serious face looked even more stern than ever. This was a mistake. All of it. Why were they bringing the ambassador here to the heart of the pride? Them with their tricks and their schemes and strange ways?
"Interesting but dangerous." She replied lowly. Even if she tried to tell them all otherwise she doubted that they would listen. They were too curious for their own good and that might very well lead to their downfall.
"I don't like this, Sir." She continued, her eyes darting nervously across the gathered lions. Even the numbers didn't make her feel safe when here was a Nergui around. "Talking never helped the Hongshan. They should just kill him now and be done with it."
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Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 5:37 pm
"It is worrying that he's so well rested... it suggests he came and spent the night nearby, and it makes me worry that he didn't come alone. Hraga, you said there is a patrol out looking for others? Lets hope they find anything that's out there so we don't get any nasty surprises."
Morag eyed the group of lions as they drew closer, her mind whirling. "Lets give him the impression I'm the one in charge... maybe if we're lucky, if he really is an assassin, he'll try something with me now and we can just kill him. Save us the danger of getting him too close to the Regents..."
She went a few steps before Elcca's sudden pause caught her attention and she slowed, turning her scarred face back to look at the seer. "What's wrong? Why did you stop?"
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Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 11:29 am
Mwale'Kono tensed. He was still finding the new situation a little overwhelming. He had come from being beaten half to death by an elephant to being introduced to what seemed like the middle of war. That must be it. There were all these names and faces that he wasn't entirely familiar with, but he did not slink away, no, he was a part of this now, and he owed his new life to these members. Many of his questions were answered by the murmuring of others, but a few had not. He would have to consult other members of the pride individually, he supposed it was not the right time for a history lesson.
His deep voice found the air again, and this time it was in agreement with both Mwako'Damu and Morag. "He may well be looking for something, or someone, perhaps to confirm a suspicion. Maybe they sent him for information?" He nodded firmly, "He surely would not survive an attack with everyone present."
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Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 12:15 pm
Khindel made his way through the other lions to make his way to his mate. He knew if there was any questioning of this Nergui to be done then he had just one. He wanted the name of whoever was responsible for the death of their son. A name to go with the blame, a name to the loathing. However he didn't expect this to be any simple Q and A session, or if they'd even get to opportunity.
He wasn't sure what to expect, there were so many things that could happen. He suspected that this Nergui did not come alone, and that made him even more nervose. With most of the Firekin gathered, they were like fish in a barrel. And if the Nergui came in masse, their guards would stand little chance. And this captive could just be a distraction as the enemy moved in, surrounding them....
It was like a nightmare he had once after the death of Nur.
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Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 1:33 pm
Azar was about to raise to her feet and join all of the other lions to go investigate the 'ambassador' but at the same time as she was standing there she started to realize how much she didn't really want to be part of the huge crowd investigating the stranger. She felt like if they were all to gather around the stranger things could end up horribly. She felt like it would for sure end up horribly. She sigh and she sat back down looking toward her parents and then to the crowd again. She was going to comment on how she felt crowding around the stranger would be bad but she decided to just wait. She was feeling tense a little worried, but at the same time she was more worried than anything else about what news was going to come out of the lion. She knew it would be dumb for the single lion to attack in a meeting like this unless he some how brought others with him.
She turned toward her mate as he wandered toward her and she offered a smalll smile. "I think everyone should relax some." She commented simply flicking her tail behind her. "Nothing good is going to come out of everyone being tense, one lion against an army can only do so much."
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Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 2:05 pm
"But what if this is merely a distraction?" Khindel asked.
Mind games, patience, planning, were all things he tried to teach their children, where as the very blood of a Firekin was geared towards straight up battle. Being Rogue-born himself, he'd been well versed in patience and mind games before joining and expanding his own battle prowess. These Nergui were tricky and patient... No doubt planners. And he knew well how easily patience and planning could undermine brute strength.
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Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 3:06 pm
Moments later, and Elcca was still frozen in place. She could see the group in front of them, but her eyes were squarely on the black lion. She knew that lion. She more than knew that lion. Same eyes, same fur, same build. Even the same little scar on his cheek that she'd given him. It was Yoan.
...but not. As if coming to her senses, she shook her head and took a few steps back. The lion still remained, but so did the gentle wingbeats of the crow overhead. He fluttered and landed on her shoulder in a manner that was far too familiar to them now. No, the real Yoan was still here. Still a bird, but still here, Hestia be damned.
The seeress narrowed her eyes. Shadow games indeed. Someone was trying to mess with her head, and it had the blood singing in her ears. "I don't think we should let it come near us," she said hastily.
Now it was Hraga's turn to stop. He paused midstep, looking behind. "Someone has to deal with him," and then, in a louder voice to Morag: "My lady Regent. This is the ambassador."
Up on the dune, Tarsa and Armada glanced curiously at one another but didn't respond. The black lion simply smiled and bowed his head respectfully. "My lady," he thrummed, his blue eyes unusually bright. "I am called Tarak."
arrow Will the ambassador buy the charade?
Next three people in the escort group, roll 1-3. If the amount adds up to at least 4, this plan seems totally legit.
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Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 3:22 pm
Azar was about to start following the group but when she saw how many began to head toward the 'ambassador', Azar decided that it would be better to stay behind. She sat back on her haunches and then sighed a little. "It almost seems as if the entire pride is going to help." She chuckled a little before getting herself comfortable again. "Although being prepared is good, there is not point in overwhelming the visitor." She was trying not to get to edgy at the moment.
She watched the group carefully not exactly sure of what to do or what to say. She didn'tunderstand why Elcca was frozen in her tracks and she for sure didn't like the look the male. She wasn't sure what to do at the moemnt. But for now she sat ready to jump at any moment, waiting for the right second, the time where she could say something or act on something
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mouselet generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
3!
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Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 4:16 pm
Huozin listened to the tide of conversation going back and forth between trusting the ambassador as a diplomat and mistrusting him as a spy. He wasn't certain which was the better option.
"If he is what he claims to be, then he should understand that we must be suspicious even of an ally's representative," the white lion said quietly. "If he is anything else, then it behooves us to take precautions against him. Again, a true ambassador should understand our purpose."
He was aware that most of the pride's attention seemed riveted on the stranger, Tarak. He wasn't certain why the deception, as he hadn't heard that bit, but understood the caution.
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Andranis generated a random number between
1 and 3 ...
2!
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Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 5:08 pm
When the others left, Aurinko followed, though at a slight distance. She hadn't missed the admonishing Seide had gotten, so it was more to follow Hraga. And she was curious as to what had Elcca so... Tense. The red-striped black lioness paused near the other lions, eyes flashing as she watched not the stranger, but the red lioness. She tilted her head, having missed the private conversation from Elcca to Yoan, and went over, dropping her voice. "Elcca... I'm curious... You seem to not be happy to see THAT particular lion... May I ask why...? You don't have to... Elaborate or anything, just a little answer will do..." Even an answer of him not being what he seemed would work for her.
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Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 5:48 pm
This whole set up did not sit well with Mwako'Damu. "Kooka," he said somewhat softly, though he eyed Kosuke at the same time, who was not too far off. The bird stirred. "Yes, Damu sir friend? My keeper? How is your spirit?"
"Not now, Kooka, be ready to take flight if asked, understand?" he looked to teh skies, to see if any unknown birds were close, but all seemed clear. "If you are asked, you patrol the skies, the idea of a nergui coming alone does not settle well with my stomach."
"Perhaps something you ate, or not ate, perhaps the turmoil-"
"Kooka!"
"Yes, of course," the bird was quiet again.
Mwako'Damu moved closer to where Kosuke was, and walked past him, said in mumble, "if anything is to happen, I alert others," Mwako'Damu, because of what had happened, had done some research, found new kinships, and had an idea of his own.
Mwako'Damu rounded around Kosuke and stood beside him, and Mwako wondered if the ambassador was female...
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