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 Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 10:27 am
The warrior had finally managed to get himself into the pride. It had taken too long, and he was still feeling frustrated but oddly invigorated by it. He had to fight that damn guard lion what felt like a hundred times, and the challenge had been enough to keep him coming back.
Everything he knew was changing now. He had a chance at something, to make a new life for himself. He had spent too long in the rogue lands, without a purpose, and that was not what he was meant for. He had it in him to be something incredible, something meaningful.
He just had to figure this place out, and why it had been such a draw to him. He needed to find his place here, and a path for him to follow, or set, as he was more keen on doing. He took to exploring the area today, nodding his head at anyone who saw him, and feeling no embarrassment about being new there.
Soon enough, they'd all know who he was.
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Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 10:38 am
Hethur was a busy lioness today - doing the heavy work of hauling furs and other things for someone who couldn't be bothered to do it them self. And with Hethur being as short as she was, it looked more like a mass of fluff with a head making her way through. "'scuse me, lioness on a mission, comin' through," She said as she neared Ulfric. She didn't recognize him - must of been someone new. As she moved one of the pelts slid off he stack she had on her back. "Augh, seriously..." she heaved a sigh as she looked back to the fallen fur.
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Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2013 12:33 pm
Ulfric heard the voice behind him and looked over his shoulder at the lioness on a mission behind him. Was it a lioness? He realized that she was carting a lot of furs with her, and her actual form was lost under the masses piled on top of her. She looked, at the moment, like a strange beast of some kind, the like he had never seen before.
He looked at her, then back at the fur she had dropped, as if considering the benefits and draw backs of doing something as simple as helping her. He was new here, and he had not established his reputation yet. Any move he made was important, and would impact the way this pride saw him, and responded to him when he needed or wanted them to.
At length, he moved to collect the fur for her, putting it on his own back and returning to her side.
"Where are you heading with all of these?" he asked, "I will carry more if you are in need of the assistance." He was the sort of lion who liked to do things for himself, and he wondered if her pride was already smarting by his offer, as his would have been.
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Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 5:08 pm
"There is an elderly lion whom won a bet sometime earlier this moon. The prize was these pelts, but he is to frail in his old age to carry them, and his hearty sons are too preoccupied chasing tail to do the work. I am taking them to his den." she answered. Hethur then considered his offer for a moment. She was already agitated at having to do the work, and was looking to get it done as fast as she could - hence the hauling all the furrs at once. She could have used the help, but just as he supposed, it was a battle of pride. She was no lioness to shove her duties off on someone else, nor one to turn down a challenge. She was a feisty girl with a lot of pride. "I may be small, but I never accept a job I know I can't handle. You may put the furr back on the pile. or follow me with it. That is yours to decide. I am, however, grateful that you retrieved and returned it. There are less honorable lions here who would have made off with such a fine pelt." Mainly youngsters who did not yet know what honor meant.
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Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 5:42 pm
Ulfric watched her thoughtfully for a moment, thinking her answer was pretty well thought out. He respected a lion that knew what they were doing, even if it was a lioness, and had no real issue with what she had to say to him. He knew from what he'd learned of this place so far that females were often looked down upon, and while his male pride was as strong as anyone else, he was much too focused on himself to waste his time demeaning others.
He was meant to rule, and he would work his way toward that end. He was made for the betterment of his kind, and to create a group of the strongest lions that would follow him. This was just a temporary stop along his path to his own glory.
"I will carry this one, then. Why are you doing this for them, if this old lion has his own sons to help him? One would think any son worth the blood he was given would help his father, or his elders. It is honorable of you to do it in their stead. And of course not to steal them." He had no patience for slackers, always looking for excellence. Even in things that didn't really have anything to do with him.
Of course, that was not to say he was perfect. He had a lot of justifications for the things he did, and he always found a way to honor, even if those looking at his actions did not think the same.
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Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 5:55 pm
Hethur nodded, and continued on, speaking as she went; "I do it because I find some satisfaction in helping others. An added bonus is that if I need a favor, those who I helped may be inclined to help me in turn." One could say it was her way of subtly networking. She never expected favors immediately in return, or payment, but she knew the many's honor would not allow them to leave a debt unpaid, and when the time arose she would have aid, should she need it. "As for the elder lion's sons, they are spoiled, always had everything handed to them, and think hard work is beyond them. They have not been taught respect. It will be their undoing, one of these days." Hethur had always worked hard, and even though the title of 'bard' was denied her, she still fought tooth and nail for it. It would seem they both had their own goals. "I am Hethur, by the way. I've not seen you before - welcome to the pride."
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Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 9:08 pm
Ulfric nodded, though he could not say he went out of his way to help others. He did once, someone was in danger of being killed by a vicious leopard, and he had been injured in that event. He did not regret stepping in, but he wondered if the risk was worth it, if he had been permanently injured and could no longer pursue his goals.
He would just have to be aware of what decisions would benefit him, and which ones would put him behind.
He did like her plan of helping others to have favors stored, in case she needed them later, though. It was an interesting way to look at it, and he nodded his head as he turned the idea over in his head. It was a good way to build allies, as well. Support.
"My name is Ulfric. I've not been here very long, and it is good to meet someone with focus." He thought about the lion he'd fought to win access to the pride, and did not much like the idea of having lost to such a pathetic creature.
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Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 9:19 pm
"The pleasure of meeting you is most certainly mine." Of course, by her own logic now she was also somewhat in Ulfric's debt, since he was helping her on her errand. Turning it over in her mind she decided that it was not such a bad thing...she could sense the comfy life wasn't something Ulfric sought. He seemed driven, and while many of the Stormborn had goals, lofty though they may be, Ulfric seemed to have brains behind that brawn, too which could make things interesting. Yes, very interesting indeed. She started to inquire, but before she could they were already upon the elderly lion's den. "We have arrived - toss the fur on my back and I will go in and deliver them. It shan't take but a moment."
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Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2014 12:43 am
Ulfric almost smiled, though actually getting one of those out of him would be very difficult for most other creatures. He was not prone to smiling, though he did have an appreciation for those that could. It was just not in his nature.
As far as he knew, anyway, and he felt he knew himself pretty well.
Ulfric nodded his head and moved to take the fur off his back and then toss it onto the pile she had on her back. He was not too careful about it, knowing she could handle the weight, though he did make sure not to upset the balance of the pelt pile. He then sat down, watching her quietly.
"Perhaps we might speak again some time," he said after a moment, unused to asking for company. He had been solitary for so long, he wasn't really sure how it worked. But he wanted to speak with her more, learn more about the way she thought and how she did things.
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Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2014 1:58 pm
Some while later Hethur emerged. "I would have no qualms with that," She finally responded. Now that she was not covered in furs, one could actually see more than just her paws. She was short and compact for an adult lioness - tiny but mighty! Or so she would be sure to say. In fact, she took offense to the assertion that her small-ness could be called 'dainty.' In turn she also could get more than just a paw-view of Ulfric. Yes, finally good to put a face to the voice!
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Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2014 10:46 am
Ulfric waited for her with due patience, sitting tall, as he always did, and not seeming to notice how long it took for her to return. He could sit for days if he had a purpose, as he was relentless and dedicated. Right now, that ambition was bent toward a fairly simple goal, but it was still a part of his personality.
When she did come back out, he got a better view of her, not bothering to hide the fact that he was looking her over, and sizing her up. She seemed more than capable for her size, considering how many pelts she had just been carrying. He'd thought she'd been bigger, in fact, but that must have meant she just had more pelts on her than he'd realized. It said more for her strength, and he respected that.
He nodded his head in silent decision. He wanted to learn more about this lioness: she had captured his attention.
"Let's walk, and speak," he offered. "I'd like to know you're history here, your goals." He was not the best at conversation, and a bit too direct sometimes, but he doubted she was the type to be easily offended.
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Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2014 12:19 pm
"My history," there was some wry amusement therein her tone, "challenging the status quo among the bards, ruffling feathers and bruising egos... As you may or may not know, the pride does not permit females to be bards, and just where do my passions lay?" it was a rhetorical question. "It's my own personal crusade to open the door for myself and other females with a passion for song and saga." She was sassy, and didn't back down. She made a ruckus because she knew that was the only way things would change. It was a small crusade, and nothing too glorious, but it was good to have passion, direction, goals, and not just petty pipe dreams. She was a wordsmith and entertainer at heart. "I've not concerned myself to heavily with much of the other affairs of the pride, though rumor and tale naturally reach my ears, if there is anything you want to know specifically."
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Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2014 1:03 pm
From what Ulfric had learned so far, the pride did not allow females to have some of the same ranks and powers as the males. That did not bother him outright, but he could understand how frustrating it might be for a strong willed female. In truth, all that mattered to him was power, regardless of who wielded it. It was a waste to force potentially powerful allies and followers down when they could benefit the pride by being allowed to use their talents.
One of the many flaws he was seeing in this place, and something he thought he could fix, if he deigned to stay.
"I think that is a worthy cause," he said, nodding his head. He was an outside, and not born to believe the same thing most Stormborn were. "If I can help you in it, I will do what I can. This place seems imbalanced, and concerns are weighted on unimportant things. I still have a lot to learn, I think."
But at least he had met someone who could help him, in turn.
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Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2014 1:14 pm
"I am grateful for that - in turn, I can spin a good tale if getting your name in their ears and your cause in their hearts is what you need. I may not be a bard by rank, but I do not let that stop my voice." The thought that more change could come was thrilling, and to aid in that even more so.
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Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2014 1:51 pm
F a y t h - x Do you want to wrap this one up here?
He was starting to feel like this pride had been the right decision after all.
But not for reasons others might like.
"I think it is time we part ways for now, but I would like to speak with you again, some time. And hear this tale you might share of me." He chuckled deeply at that, the noise reverberating in his chest.
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