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 Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 10:16 am
The ceremonial portion of Ruzanski's sending-off has ended. The priestesses' pronouncements had been specific in warning the new captain of troubles to come, but something in the phrasing had made it ambiguous as to whether these troubles were related to the upcoming viking or something more personal.
Typically these predictions were made at a volume which made them audible for the entire pride, but in an unusual turn of events only certain parts of the priestess's announcements were made for listening ears. Others had been spoken to the captain and his reavers in an undertone quietly enough that only the lion or lioness being addressed could hear what was said.
Still, after the runes had been cast and sacrifices made, the thralls had emerged from their place bearing meat and mint and fermented fruit. It was time to celebrate!
OOC Notes:
+ Everyone would have heard the head priestess tell Ruzanski that his best course would be to travel southeast and that his viking band should not kill any rabbits on this excursion.
+ If you play a member of the viking band (Asper, Bjorn, Don'Zaraasir, Voldemaras, and Zsaria) it is up to you to decide what your character was told and whether they choose to share this information with anyone else.
+ Sendings-off are not quiet, polite affairs. There is commonly imbibing, singing, dancing, and fighting. Even at relatively small ones like this one.
+ Questions can be posted in the OOC Discussion thread or PMed to the mule.
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Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 5:00 pm
 Zsaria was visibly shaken by the priestess's words, even in her attempts to hide it her fur still bristled stiff against the wind. Her mouth was dry and she didn't like looking so stricken, so she motioned for Misae in the crowd of thralls to come to her side. Once she had taken from her a hefty haunch of fatty meat and a small amount of mint she sent her off again, wanting to clear her thoughts for a moment before finding Bjorn. It would do no good to waste her strength on worries, not now anyway.
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Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 5:02 pm
 Lesedi was trying to decide whether he should be in a good mood or not and the decision was proving itself more difficult than he had initially predicted. He was definitely glad he’d managed overcome his askorun and finally become a full-fledged member of the pride but the odd circumstances of his achievement were bothering the young lion deeply. And if the abundance of food and spirits did seem to lighten his mood considerably, the fact that Ruzanski, the lion he had fought twice before - or more specifically the lion who had defeated him twice - was going on a viking and leaving him with no chance for a rematch, was enough to keep a frown shadowing his green eyes.
Well, he should mingle. Lesedi still didn’t know most of the pride lions and he was curious about the sort of warriors they were, the history of the pride and, more importantly to the current situation, he wondered about the type of parties they had. He’d never tasted mint before and, quite honestly, he not take well to the flavor on his first try but he didn't wish to appear weak so he kept those thoughts to himself.
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Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 9:47 pm
 Thus far his time with the pride was proving interesting, and there was no way Don was going to pass up an opportunity to wreck face and get his claws dirty. This Viking was exactly what he had been looking forward to since hearing of the pride's traditions and beliefs. To say the least the dull tawny lion was in high spirits, his claws shifting in and out restlessly in anticipation for their journey.
He had come to enjoy the abundance of meat that the pride could offer, having previously lived a rogue's life he knew what it meant to go a few nights without the slightest of morsels to wet his appetite. He took what hunks of meat he wished to consume, but mostly remained fixated on the festivities and conversations around him. Still not the most social of beasts, he was pleased to be left alone to muse and mull over what had been told him by the priestesses. Though he wasn't certain just how much faith he should put into their words, still uncertain to their ways and high on the venture to come. He supposed what would happen on the Viking would happen, and there was nothing he could do about it. So why waste good energy doubting and worrying? Don was much happier feasting and taking in his surroundings.
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Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:04 am
It was just moments before a priestess stopped him to proclaim things in such low and conniving whispers, these were what caused the usually calm lion to look severely disgruntled. It was not so much the message, but the way they did things. Even being brought here at such a young age Bjorn had not grown accustomed to the whisperings. Grumbling and letting his pelt bristle a bit he walked off.
The nearest Thrall looked a stifle shaken when Bjorn, a large lumbering fella, came over to grab some grub. "Be still." He grumbled softly, usually the gentle giant, but today was serious business and he was about ready to get some serious 'celebration on'. Somehow he had managed his way into this Viking, got Zsaria involved and was now seated before a group who was celebrating their leaving. He smiled, played nice and immediately began the search for his friend.
White pelt, blue stripes and beautiful eyes. Bjorn spotted her from a short distance away and moved forward, she looked just as disgruntled if not worse and he found his heart skip a beat. Something, Bjorn, would not share even over his dead body. "Zsaria." He said with a warm, fond grin before stepping nearer. She was working to get herself calmed again when he strolled to her.
[I promise I will get into the swing of taggings~ Until then my posts might seem a bit off >>;
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Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:39 am
 "I cannot believe I wasn't asked to come along," Galning fumed, somewhere between mock and genuine outrage as he complained to his neighbor at volumes that allowed everyone within several yards to hear him. He had been quick to take some of the fermented fruit that had been brought around.
"Do you think it's because I have a cub? That's discrimination!" the spotted reaver went on, leaning in very close to his neighbor. "And can't even be true, 'cause Asper has more cubs than me."
And no doubt Galning would be stuck looking after them while his cousin was out having a good time. He was definitely not pleased by the current state of affairs. Oh, he wasn't angry about them. But he was feeling put out and sulky, and Galning had never been one to suffer in silence. He felt slighted, and he wanted to be sure Ru knew it.
"And another thing! I - " he fell silent as the need to shove more food into his mouth overwhelmed his need to complain. The next several seconds would provide a reprieve for those around him while he bit, chewed, and swallowed.
"The other thing is that I've been training with him. He knows what I can do, and how fierce I can be. This is all so stupid and unfair. I can't believe I'm even here. It's not like my family is on my side. Or my friends." He looked pointedly at Ru and Asper.
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Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 9:57 am
Lesedi’s eyes followed Ruzanski as the spotted lion bit off large chunks of the tender meat of a young gazelle, his still replaying his defeats at the paws of the dark lion. He supposed there was a bright side to everything and in this case, it was that Lesedi would have the opportunity to train with some of the strongest warriors while Ruzanski was viking. And when the young Captain returned, Lesedi would challenge him for a proper duel and prove his strength. He was aware that the dark lion wasn’t going to be lazing off in the rogue lands that he might, in fact, return stronger than he’d left. But Lesedi was confident in his skills and in his ability to improve even further with proper guidance and training so he was certain their next match would have a different outcome.
Green eyes widened when he recognized the loud voice of the ranting lion as the crazy Reaver he’d fought on his last askorun. Galning! With no hesitation, Lesedi grabbed his gazelle leg and promptly tried to relocate to a more suitable location with some degree of haste, barely looking at where he was going. The last thing he wanted was to talk to that weird lion again.
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Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 4:29 pm
 Ru tried not to feel shaken by the pronouncement the priestess had made when she spoke to him in an undertone. She had warned him not to be so intent on future prizes that he lost what treasures he already possessed. Under the ornate formal raiment of her office it had been nearly impossible to tell which priestess addressed him, and so Ru wondered if it had been Kazul's mother, sister, or a half-sister who warned him, and whether they had been talking about Kazul. Probably they hadn't been, and he was just paranoid because he hadn't seen her among the lions assembled.
He shook his head and began to eat the organ which had been placed in front of him by the whispering priestess. He hadn't looked to see which part of the sacrifice he'd been given. Everything happening around him had been sort of a blur so far and he felt like he was missing all the details. He resolved not to worry tonight about Kazul or whatever it was she hadn't told him when they met on the beach a short while. Tonight was to celebrate the viking he was leading, and he ought to enjoy it.
He heard snippets of someone speaking loudly, but he didn't catch enough of what he was saying to make any sense of it. When he looked over and saw it was Galning he dismissed the matter completely. Galning was fun to be around, particularly if one was in the mood to do something stupid, but he was too prone to outbursts and unpredictable mood swings to be someone Ru ever too seriously. In the same direction he saw a tawny-coated lion shifting to move away from Galning.
"Lesedi," he called. "You made it. Congratulations and welcome!"
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Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 7:48 pm
"Bjorn," Zsaria said quickly, her voice seeming rushed as she tried to figure out what to do with herself. After a moment she settled on ignoring her meal for the time being and moved toward him, brushing her face against his side as she settled down beside. "I was worried you wouldn't come," she admitted, "And then the priestess, well-" She looked away from him, her face flushed warm, "Well she told me something disconcerting, but I know things aren't always just as the priestesses predict." Still, she thought she might distance herself from him, if only it didn't feel so right to be by his side. This was a reaving though, her duty came above all else.
And there was their captain, calling out the name of one she couldn't quite place. They were all younger than her, it seemed, and while it didn't fill her with confidence she knew who to respect and how the office was earned. Young or no, Ru had to have earned it. A part of her looked forward to seeing how he'd function as a leader, another was frightened. She hadn't felt that before, even at her first reaving. Perhaps she was getting too old and settled for it.
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Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 4:34 am
Bjorn... her words were rushed and showed some apparent fear. What had the priestess' said to shaken her up like this? He was beyond bewildered, but hid it, obviously she needed a shoulder to lean on at this exact moment. So he put a smile on and grinned deeper when her pale cheeks glowed slightly. It was that moment there Bjorn treasured most. He lingered slightly at her touch, but when she didn't pursue something longer he didn't push it.
It was slightly awkward, he looked to her eyes, they spoke just as much as her words and immediately he could tell she was fighting something in herself. He mentally shrugged off the worry and assumed he would know what was going on when she was comfortable telling. That's when a voice spoke over the rest, Ru was speaking with another of the lions going on the Viking.
Bjorn suddenly felt very old. All these lions, some still had the prettied pelt of a cat who has not seen much, if any battle. He grumbled softly and smiled back to Zsaria when he found her eyes again. "Seems we are the oldies now, m'dear." A smirk played at his lips, a light laugh hidden behind the surrounding sounds.
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Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 6:55 am
 Vol had initially been reluctant to have anything to do with Ru's first viking. Because a large portion of the pride probably knew he had been the one to train Ru in the Stormborn way of living and fighting, Vol had not wanted anyone to think that he would still be guiding Ru while they were out viking. And so he had not wanted to go. He would have liked to have been asked however, and by the time Ru got around to asking him, Vol initially said no for no reason beyond spite.
"Please," Ru had said, using one of his outlander expressions. "Something might go wrong, and if it does, I want you in charge. You'll keep my viking from failing completely."
"Actually, it will be my viking at that point," Vol had pointed out, but he had agreed to come as Ru's second.
And now he had a bone cracked between his jaws and was working on getting the marrow out while he watched the lions around him. Bjorn and Zsaria thought they were old? Did they realize what that made him? He considered pointing it out wearing a grouchy expression, just to see if he could startle them, but Zsaria at least looked pretty shaken up as it was.
Probably about the priestesses' dire predictions. Vol hadn't quite rolled his eyes at those, but he hadn't been particularly concerned by what he had been told. All vikings came with risk, and Vol wasn't upset by that. Things would fall out as they did, and forewarned was forearmed and all that.
"Hey," he said to the lion beside him. "Anyone seen the warlord tonight?"
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Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 11:20 am
It had taken Asper quite a while to part himself from his son; Resimus, with plenty of eye-rolling and exasperation, had assured his father that he would be fine and that it would be an honor for his father to take part in this viking. The sending-off had gone well, and Asper had to fight the urge to check on his son.. well, sons. No, this was his first viking as a member of the pride, and it wouldn't do well to come off as a mother hen. And so, despite the urge he felt to check on the boys one last time, Asper remained with the other reavers that were taking part in this excursion. He found himself loitering near Vol, who presented a decent question. "Yes, where is the warlord? I have to admit, I was expecting him to send us off."
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Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 3:48 pm
Lesedi froze for a moment as his ears swiveled towards Ruzanski. One paw still in the air, the Stormborns’ new addition felt trapped between his desire to avoid the young Captain and the realization that there was no way he could pretend not to have heard him without being very obviously rude – which normally he wouldn’t have minded much if not for his determination to keep his nose out of a trouble until he’d become properly settled in the pride. Starting a brawl on his first feast was not in his immediate plans.
A better lion might’ve considered the fact that holding a grudge for his two defeats was nothing but silly and immature behavior but Lesedi was young and his blood always did seem to run hotter than it was supposed to. He still had trouble just looking the dark lion in the eye.
Then again, he couldn’t help but to remember how the young Captain had been nothing but encouraging after defeating him - twice - and he had even remembered Lesedi’s name just now. That was what finally made Lesedi drop the gazelle leg that’d he’d been biting so hard that it’d left wide teeth marks on the tender meat.
“Thank you, Ruzanski. I guess I have to call you Captain now. Congratulations.” He said as he stepped closer to the dark lion so he wouldn’t have to raise his voice. While he failed to sound cheerful in his felicitacions, he managed to keep his tone neutral. “I still want a rematch, you know. When you return.” Honestly, Lesedi wasn’t sure if there should be more formality when requesting a duel from a Stormborn Captain but he’d never been very good at keeping his mouth shut.
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Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2012 8:26 pm
Vol didn't know much about the lion beside him, other than his name and that he was going on his first viking, but at first glance he generally approved of him. The older lion was fairly certain that he had been seeing lions who looked like this one around the pride for some time now, but whether that meant that an entire family had somehow forced their way in or a minor family had suddenly decided to come out to play, Vol had no idea.
"Might be he doesn't want to give the impression of being too partial," Vol supposed. "But if that was his goal, he could've just waited for the boy to get a bit older before promoting him to a captaincy."
Vol genuinely didn't care if Ru heard him or not. The two lions were generally candid with one another, having no reason to lie or keep secrets. When Ru had finally gotten around to telling his mentor about his promotion, he had asked Vol why he might have been singled out in such a way. Vol had said all this and more at the time, so if Ru did overhear, he would not be hearing anything new.
"Isn't that your brother making an a** out of himself?"Ru might've raised his eyebrows in amusement had he been human. The sight of Lesedi dropping his gazelle leg was comical, since it gave him the appearance of having been caught in the midst of an attempted theft or something. He just seemed so startled to have been noticed and singled out. Did he really think Ru wouldn't recognize and remember someone who had been so determined, and yet also so unlucky?
Ru wondered who he had finally beaten, but he would not ask. Usually if the outcome of an askorun was not announced with at least equanimity by the Stormborn who had been defeated, there was something about the fight that at least one combatant found shameful. Ru would not pry into that, but he remained curious. Perhaps Vol would know something more. Somehow he usually did.
"Thanks. I wouldn't make you," he said. Barely he managed not to point out that he probably could. "But, of course, you're more than welcome to. It still has a nice ring to it."
He grinned, despite the less than encouraging tone and expression Lesedi offered him. The tawny lion's mood might not be celebratory, but Ru was determined to enjoy himself this evening.
"Giving yourself time to train while I'm away? Good idea. When I come back, I look forward to seeing what you've learned."
Again, he might have raised his eyebrows here if he was a human, this time in a way that might have implied that Lesedi might only have learned that he was never going to beat Ru. But Ru was a lion and his expression did not convey that message. Which was probably just as well.
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Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2012 8:24 am
Casting a dry look in Galning's direction, Asper grimaced before turning back to face Vol. "Ah.. no. He's a cousin of mine; I seem to be collecting cousins. I've another that calls this land home, as well. Timorien.. which would make Galning his brother." Asper cleared his throat and leaned in to whisper, "They aren't... normal, I guess one could say." That being said, Asper leaned back. Introductions were probably in order. "I'm Asper. I've a brother, Atheris, and three boys to call my own."
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