|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2012 9:32 pm
"We don't have much choice, Elcca..." Morag said softly, turning to narrow her eyes at the stranger. "You can hang back though. Keep your eyes and ears open, for now."
The dark lioness continued forward with her head high, unable to wait for her watcher to explain exactly what it was that was bothering her so much about this Nergui. Waiting on a subordinate would undermine the role she was attempting to play, and she needed to look like she was in charge, at least until she was sure he wasn't a thread to the Regents. Time to see how much their opponents knew about them...
"Tarak, is it? You are a very brave lion to enter our lands... or a suicidal one. From what I'm told, you were impersonating an ambassador from one of our allies. Would you care to explain yourself, or shall we dispose of you now?" She snapped, red eyes sharp.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2012 6:20 am
Elcca gritted her teeth and pushed past Aurinko. "Its nothing," she muttered. Despite her admission, her eyes never left the black lion, falling just short of pacing. Something wasn't right.
To their credit, the black lion seemed unaware of both Elcca's suspicion and Morag's charade. He didn't even seem entirely concerned by the guard bearing down on him. "I apologize for misleading your guards," he said, his voice noticeably lacking the usual Nergui accent inflections. In fact, it had a kind of lilting tone, like a person who enjoyed listening to themselves speak. "I doubted my arrival would be welcome, and it would have been bothersome to be killed or turned around before I completed my job."
"Graos Oma does not look kindly on those who fail their missions, after all," he continued. As he did, he stood up. The two guards on either side of him tensed, and backed him back into a seated position. His tail pulsed, but showed no other sign of annoyance. "How strange you fear one lion."
"My lady regent, I have been authorized to bring terms to you. You have one of ours prisoner, and I intend to negotiate for his release," Tarak continued.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2012 6:21 am
Mwale decided to stay put for now. He felt as a joining rogue he couldn't be flinging himself into situations he did not fully comprehend. He tried to do that with an elephant and that hadn't worked out too well..
There were others hanging back too, but still a fair few lions gathered around the ambassador. Mwale'kono's limbs tensed and he raised himself a little off the ground, the large fire-pawed male was poised to strike- if he needed to.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2012 6:48 am
A smirk curved the corner of Morag's mouth up as she watched the guards bully him back into sitting, a tilt of her head letting him know she enjoyed any discomfort he might have.
"I think you misunderstand our intentions, Tarak, and the amount of danger you have put yourself into for Graos Oma. Such loyalty he inspires... We have loyalty here too, and the Nergui have claimed two lives already. You're lucky our discipline holds strong, or a bereaved family member could have killed you before you'd taken three steps into our lands." She glanced back at Elcca, still wondering what she knew about this male that she wasn't telling. He seemed, if not normal, at least no worse than any other creature. With her up bringing, it was hard for Morag to understand the supernatural, or even give it much credibility. Unless one was a seer, the only power one had was in their own paws and backs... and even the strongest lion could be brought down when there was a whole pride to see to it.
"Lets hear your terms."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2012 10:06 am
Aquila was kicking herself now- if only she'd gone along to escort the prisoner as well. It was somewhat boring here, and her urge for action kept her attention squarely focused on those who had gone out into the desert to see the Nergui. Instead, here she was amongst the crowd. At least she was with the Regents- the only comfort she could find in staying behind. In case the stranger plowed through the party that had gone to greet him, (unlikely, she thought,) she would be here in the second wave of defense.
Second wasn't ever very fun, though. Aaaaaaahhhh she wished she'd gone down there! But heading out now... Might endanger whatever they were doing. That wasn't an option. Her tail tip flicked lightly- the only sign of her regret of her decision.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2012 11:36 am
Mwako'Damu stayed a distance, but watched carefully. Watched the lion...male now that he saw, in question. He sneered, narrowed his eyes, shoulders tensed. "What is wrong, you need aquene in your eyes and heart now, friend." Mwako'Damu quirked a brow. "Peace, it means peace."
"I will not have it, not now, not yet," he said quickly, watching, ears perking.
He wished he was closer to listen.
"Do you want me to go to the etu, the sun, your sister? Do I bother?"
"Just shh, Kooka, be silent and still now, just wait." He was trying to wait, but he was becoming impatient. One nergui, bah. Why would one come alone. It made no sense. There had to be more, Mwako wanted there to be more so he could find the female, draw her out get his paws on her...he tensed,a dn took a breath. He needed to focus.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2012 3:32 pm
Tarak did not seem too troubled by the threat of death. In fact, his shoulders slumped forward once it became apparent he wouldn't be moving. "Ah, lets not keep score. I have very little control of past actions. Future ones, now... had you killed me, perhaps those two dead would become four."
There was a growl from one of the guards, but he did not move.
"My terms are very simple. This is a summit! I would like to speak, and be properly invited. As for your prisoner, you will release him to me," he said. Afterwards, there was a long pause as though he might say more. He didn't.
"Those aren't proper terms." Elcca bristled, her outburst sending Yoan back into the air. Lazily drifting, as though he was completely unalarmed by having a doppleganger. But in this regard, the two had always been quite different. Yoan played his cards close to his chest.
"Surrendering the prisoner to me can have advantages," the black lion continued. "It could mean a delay in conflict. A delay in Graos Oma's arrival. This is what my patron can provide."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2012 4:38 pm
Mwako'Damu huffed and paced back and forth, trying to settle his fleeting mind. "Why hesitate bringing him closer," Mwako'Damu said harshly, "if we were to harm him, we would have done so by now. If provoked, there would be more to keep him near, keep him from alerting others."
"You are over thinking-"
"Silence Kooka."
THe bird ruffled his feathers and sighed, "If you do not let your min d at ease, what good can you be, you were not the only one to lose her," he said and then was quiet as a stone.
Though he pricked Mwako's skin...metaphorically and literally, and the lion knew well. He sighed, looked to his paws. Rough, worn, trained hard recently because of what had occurred. He had blamed himself.
But he could make a difference, if allowed to the task.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2012 6:24 pm
The dark lioness glared at the black lion. "She's right, those aren't good terms." She stepped just a bit closer, hackles starting to rise. "I'd like to know how you'd plan on killing two of us on your own - You don't even have your compatriots around you! Where's this... MIGHTY army we've heard about?" Her first instinct had been to goad him. Aurinko'd thought better of that, though - She had no idea what sort of trickery he was capable of, and if he had something he was planning on doing if he WERE goaded on. "Who is this Graos Oma, anyway? Do you even know what their face looks like?" Did anybody?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2012 8:25 pm
(I hate sitting on the action ;-; You go Athine!)
Aithne didn't want to sit around as everyone gathered around the visitor. She didn't like not knowing was going on. She tossed her sister Azar a glance and when a nod was returned. She got to her feet and then nudged Yayuka's side. She then quietly started to make her way toward the others, she moved quietly listening as she approached. as she walked she heard the 'threats' coming from the male and right away her lips curled back into a snarl, a low noise followed and she moved closer. "You come into a stranger's land and expect us to listen to what you want?" Basically that didn't fly very well with her. Her tail flicked wildly around her and her hair started to raise on her hackles. She did not even know what this male was doing or what he was thinking, she was getting extremely frustrating.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2012 11:04 am
Morag ignored the commentary from the sides, the questions being barked at the 'ambassador'. It wouldn't do any good to bark at them to knock it off, and if they made him uncomfortable, all the better.
"And who is your patron, that he has the power to delay the great Graos Oma? And what does he want with the traitor we hold captive? He betrayed you, freed the Hongshan... letting him die a prisoner would be a fitting punishment." She was getting a suspicion about who might have sent this lion... There was one lion in the Nergui that she knew might want Miah back, but... there was so much she didn't know, too. Maybe he held information they wanted kept secret, though thus far her attempts to ferret it out had been unsuccessful. Still... the fact that they wanted him made her want to not give him to them all the more. In the end, though, it would be up to the Regents to decide.
"And what could you possible have to say to our pride, when your actions have made your intentions perfectly clear?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2012 2:16 pm
The shouted questions did not seem to unsettle the ambassador. In fact, he seemed to listen to them as though they were as valid as the one questioning him. When they had stopped, he almost answered them in proper order. "You misunderstand. I said had you killed me the number would double. The indication was that there would be retaliation. I will speak more clearly in the future."
"As for the location of our forces, or our leader, that would be beyond the scope of these negotiations," he continued. "I doubt even the life of a prisoner is worth that sort of information."
For a moment, he did seem surprised at Morag's assertions. Then his blue eyes cooled. "A traitor? If he was a traitor, why would you still hold him as a prisoner?" Tarak seemed legitimately curious at that. Perhaps, learning a few things of his own.
"As for things to say, I simply think it is proper. Here you are discussing my people, and here I am willing to discuss. To an extent," he drawled. "Make no mistake, I am not an olive branch. But do not think that Graos Oma would not forget the mistreatment of his ambassador, or the dismissal of his offer."
"As for my patron, it is Kaar Godlum who has a vested interest in the survival of his son. But it is Graos Oma who I speak for, and no other."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2012 3:23 pm
Roho growled low in her throat, her hackles rising. She did not like this at all. Not one bit. This 'ambassador' should not have been brought into the lands. He shouldn't have been so close to the regents. He shouldn't have been permitted to speak at all. Her anger was rising and perhaps a bit of fear, too. No good could come of this. She was sure of that if nothing else.
"Sir..." She mumbled quietly to Nawvlee. Perhaps she was hoping the male might talk her out of any aggressive action. But the longer the talk went on the more furious she was getting. How could her newfound kin even be speaking with this one? He couldn't be trusted. His very demeanour stank of egotistical liar.
--
On the other side of the spectrum, Azar'bijan looked unimpressed. This was a Nergui? That lion? He hardly seemed worthy of the reputation of 'monster of the north'. He was plain black, blue-eyed and smart-mouthed. The guard didn't like him at all but neither was he impressed or frightened. He wasn't sure what he had been expecting (maybe a two-headed lion?) but this was disappointing.
His tail thumped once against the floor as he expelled a breath of air.
Behind him, Kidondo sat very still and very quiet. His eyes were fixed firmly on the ambassador but he didn't - as of yet - seem inclined to speak or to interrupt. Perhaps he was planning to let things play out and see the outcome would be.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 7:26 am
For a moment, Morag studdied Tarak with a measuring gaze. He had confirmed her suspicions in one respect, but the final choice was not hers.
"If you'll excuse me for a moment." She said as she rose and turned to pad back to the real Regents, leaving the guards with their ambassador. When she arrived, she joined the pair on their rock with a bow of her head, speaking quietly to fill them in on what had been said.
"I think he is what he says he is, but that doesn't mean we can trust him fully. Which I'm sure you're already aware of. He wants to represent the Nergui in our discussions and... he wants us to release Miah to him. His 'patron', as he calls him, is Godlum. From what we discovered North, Godlum is Miah's father, and a seer. He holds a high ranking position, though not the highest. He knew our patrol had been observing the Nergui, but he intentionally let us escape without alerting the others." She rolled her shoulders, watching the pair to see their reactions. "I'm not inclined to allow him Miah, but that is more because they want him than for any other reason... We've gotten no useful information out of him thus far. I don't know what he hopes to accomplish by speaking to the pride... if he's seeking support, I highly doubt he'll find any, not with the recent deaths."
She paused for a moment then, her tail flicking behind her. "This could open up potential for a plan I have in mind... if they think they've found willing ears here. The final decisions are yours. Will you allow him to join our discussion, and will you release Miah to him? If you want to ask more questions than I have thought of, I can bring him to you... I don't feel he's an immediate threat, not with so many on guard for an attack."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 1:41 pm
More of these games, No thought. Her claws pulsed on the stone, making their own imprint. Miah had not been useful, but she didn't like the idea of giving anything of hers away. They hadn't provoked the northern tribe. Any issue they had had sprung from the firekin sheltering the Hongshan. She wasn't about to roll over on her belly and give concessions to that.
As for this 'Godlum'...she didn't like that he'd let their spies go. Even if a father, she had a hard time believing he'd put his own people aside for one child's safety. She tried not to think of what she'd do in a similar situation.
"If you believe he won't go mad the moment he steps foot here, he may speak," the black cat uttered. "But I'll let the pride decide if they want to let their prisoner go. Perhaps we should simply make a second prisoner of him."
The nergui had not shown them honor- why should they?
arrow "What do you say?" she spoke, looking at the crowd. "Do you wish to hear this Nergui speak?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
