Log View

Source	Contents
Raullaur	It's been a while since the Lions' Pride has been out, and every group needs to get out and actually use their skills, especially those who want to actually meet the reputation this group has. And so the group has gotten out of the city after the recent Festival of Serenity, and is out running an exercise--a group of them split off to scout out and try to infilitrate the main camp, while the others try to defend. And both of them hunting for fresh meat. Raullaur himself is watching the exercise from a hilltop, unarmored, but with a grand daiklaive strapped to his back
Fudou the Mountain	They're being watched. They've been being watched for some time. The forests and wild are home to many creatures after all so who is to take specific notice of a bird of prey taking note of the exercise from a high perch while also studying the camp with decidedly un-bird like curiousity. Eventually said bird disappears, deciding that enough observation has been had and it no doubt has taken off to do more bird like things. Or it could have just decided to become an earthquake. The very ground gegins to tremble and shake, the trees quaking and rustling and then suddenly visibly snapping and breaking as the ground itself has cracks issue force, spider webbing out from the wood in advance of the approaching seismic disturbance that has decided to make its presence known. It's as if a Yeddim or Tyrant Lizard has suddenly decided to begin approaching the camp. The truth is..not far from that as the forest edges part like a curtain, trees uprooted and shoved aside as the absolutely monumental form of Fudou the Mountain in full war-form regalia, emerges, making a bee line towards Raullar. The behemoth was immense in the city. A virtual landmass of sinew and thews. He's now a full on mountain range. Impossibly enormous and muscles bulging and fighting for space on his form like hairy tectonic plates and his bullish oxen like visage set into mildly bemused smirk. Moonsilver glitters on his strongmans attire and along the massive pillar like grand goremaul strapped across his shoulders as he lumbers near. It is a deliberate sort of approach that sort of screams 'You want to talk about LUnars, eh?'
Rishi	There is a bit of wind next to Raullaur as a curvy woman lands next to him. She looks somewhat catlike, with the ochre furred tail and body, didigrade paws, and claws...but the bat wings and mostly human face mean that she is most definitely not your normal beastkin. She clicks her tongue as she shakes her head. "I am supposing that this is his idea of the 'subtle'. It would be best for your men that they do not attack him. I am not knowing him well enough to know whether he would not be breaking someone who did that." She gives him a bright smile. "Though as I am here, I will be trying to fix anyone who may be injured." "Hello again. It is nice to be seeing you once more, Raullaur."
Raullaur	Raullaur turns at the large sounds, and then sees the giant beastman, silver and all, and his eyes widen. He shifts his stance slightly, no overtly going for his weapons, but ready for action. "Hello," he says in RIverspeak, and his tail lashes behind him. "You come seeking me? Me alone? Orrr all my grroup?" His tone is polite and curious. And then another is next to him, and he turns, and nostrils flare slightly, before giving her a nod. "And hello, Rishi, yes?" He gives a nod. "Definitely good to see you." He turns back and nods to the Mountain as well, "And to meet you as well," he says.
Fudou the Mountain	"We've already -met-." booms the behemoth, resonant voice rumbling and shaking the air though memory may trigger the familiar general tone and accent. "In Great Forks. You wanted to know more about Lunars, didn't you? Well? You're in luck! It just so happens that the group you've managed to fall into have some among them who eye these bizarre circumstances with more then al iittle..amusement.." Fudou eyes Rishi and gives her a nod before he lifts a swamp tree thick arm and then gestures widely, indicated the no doubt alarmed and ready camp, "Are these all of your men?"
Rishi	She shakes her head once more, long hair swishing back and forth like the tail of an angry cat. She calls out "Fudou, I know we are being outside the city, but I think you are being the obvious a little too much. You are already ruining their training, it would be best that none of his people are being killed."
Raullaur	"About half are in the woods, looking to attack these," Raullaur says. And it's a decent amount. A full company--less than a battalion, though, and one at the camp is on alert, looking back up to the hill. Raullaur lifts a horn and gives a signal, and the watcher nods, and goes back to tasks within the camp. "And yes, I am..curious about lunars, the Heroes and Heroines, Chosen of the Moon. Myself? I am not one, and I think never will be." The lionman gives a lazy grin. Rishi gets a chuckle, "It's all right. That signal told them 'All is well--continue as you were.' And they are disciplined enough they will obey." And indeed, the camp is focusing on its defense now, adn not back up on the hill.
Rishi	Rishi still looks a little concerned, but subsides and gives Raullaur her full attention. "So, you have now the meeting of those Chosen by the One with Many Faces. What are you wishing to be knowing?" Rishi tilts her head to the side, thinking, before saying "I am not believing that one can be twice Chosen, no. As you already have the blessing of the Most High, you must just be making do with the stupendous power that he has already given unto you." She sounds like she is teasing you a little.
Fudou the Mountain	"There are times for subtlety but I deemed this to not be one of them. I have no intentions on his men though I am curious about him and his unique circumstances." notes Fudou as he turns to Rishi and then back towards Raullaur, "Yes...chosen of the sun. Bright Journey didn't take long to spill that secret out..though I suppose being in Great Forks so long has caused some of our defenses to be lower then usual where secrets are concerned."
Raullaur	Raullaur chuckles slightly, and nods. "I...don't know what I don't know, so I don't even know what to ask," he says. "I have heard that there are those Chosen by the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars, in the histories of our tribe, but only as myths and legends. Nothing /real/. Except that our tribe was, I think founded by one of the Moon-Chosen after he--she? the stories claims both father and mother were same--after the Sun-Chosen was entombed. So...it seems you are...like us beastmen, but not? And I have heard that sometimes there is a link between Sun-Chosen and Moon-Chosen. Beyond that...I know nothing."
Rishi	Rishi nods "I am having the power to be granting those who so wish the features of those animals I am having eaten. I have the hearing that there are those of us who can make a ...place of the power that is granting those who wish the form of the beastkin." She looks troubled. "I am not being sure how I am feeling about this. Would it not be better to be granting the people the form that they are posessing in their heart?" She shakes her head. "But then I am not knowing the technique. It is likely being much more difficult than I am thinking."
Fudou the Mountain	"We are not Beastmen." clarifies Fudou, further. "Not by nature. Rather our gifts have a connection to the bestial world, change, survival, strength, the mercurial whim of Luna. Thus it is possible for us to -create- Beastmen...and furthermore just as you Exalted as a Solar, so could a Beastman become a Lunar just as anyone could if chosen." He looks to RIshi and then back to Raullaur, "It is possible that in the past a Lunar whose totem was a Lion was involved in the founding and creation of your tribe. I do not know the specific techniques either but they exist and so one could in theory 'sire' Beastmen offspring. Perhaps many. There are luminaries among the Lunars who have such large tribes around them and as part of their entourage.. I don't know -who- your founder was but as it happened many years ago and they would have had a reason for your existence...it's possible they have moved on to other projects or have reincarnated... Either way..that you know as much as you do per your tribe legends means they must have had a direct hand in much of your development.... It's not likely you'd know as much as you do or have favorable legends in your history if this wasns't the case..."
Raullaur	"I am fine with my features--though perhaps I could wish to be more so...more what I am, if that makes sense?" Raullaur nods. "And it probably was one of them--you--but I do not recall any names. Maybe some of our taletellers remember more." Raullaur nods, and then gives a bit of a smile. "So what is it you are searching for? What do /you/ want? Yourselves? The Moon-Chosen in general?"
Rishi	Rishi headtilts again, thinking, her hair swishing a bit. "I am being given a holy mission from the One with Many Faces to help those who are looking different in their hearts than in their bodies, who have bodies that are not who they truly are inside. Aside from that, I am not wanting to be hunted and to just be living my life." She grins. "So far, it has been going well here." She hrms. "For those like us, I am not knowing many of them, so Fudou is probably best to be explaining that. But he is correct that our power, flowing from the Ever Changing One, is about mutability and tied to the wild places and the animals. By hunting and eating an animal, I can be becoming them. Once I mastered that technique, I learned to only take on various parts of animals and...Well, you can be seeing the beautiful form I crafted for myself." She poses, wings back, for a moment. "My powers also are letting me extend this to others, to be healing them or otherwise reshaping their flesh, just as I do my own."
Fudou the Mountain	"Your question does not have a sngle answer to it." adds Fudou, "Personal quests like hers may exist which differ wildly from the interests of other Lunars. I can say that for most - seeing the world wrenched from the hands of The REalm is a priority as well as defending it from threats from beyond Creations borders. How that is to be accomplished is something that does not always have Lunars seeing eye to eye though we luminaries, our shahan-ya, who mentor and guide many of us and dominions where we have shaped socieites and created civilizations an groups..such as your own." Fudou quiets and then offers a large grin, "As to me personally? I have a few agendas in mind but I will keep them to myself. On a more personal immediate level I have enjoyed harassing The Realm and ocasional members of The Guild from time to time. Perhaps your group may find an interesting bounty on my head worth pursuing..."
Raullaur	Raullaur mmms. "For me? I'm supposed to make war. To...fight, and...I don't know what else." He growls, frustrated. "I want to /know/! /Understand/! And..." He snorts a bit, "I wonder if one of the Moon-Chosen's supposed to be with me or...I don't know. I want...stability." He gives a smile to Rishi then. "Your form is very beautiful," he says, admiring with open honesty, unlike the leers and covert appreciation so often coming from civilization. Fudou gets a nod, "Haven't met much of the Realm out here. But the Guild...we're glad to take contracts against them. Besides, I'd like to have a bounty on my own head as well, at least from the right sort of people..."
Rishi	Rishi headtilts, considering. "I am being told that when those like you are being chosen, your god is not speaking to you. Not like the One is meeting us. I am being sorry if that is making things difficult." She pats Raullaur's arm. "But, if your god cannot be bothered to be giving you a quest, then I think he is assuming that you should be knowing what to be doing with the power he is giving you. If you are still feeling like you are not knowing, well, this is being the city of temples. You could be praying for..." She stands up straight like a thought just hit her. "...Hrmm... But that will be for later. Yes, you could be trying to pray to see if help is sent for you." She shrugs. "If not, then the god is trusting you. There may not be more to /be/ understanding." She pats his arm again. "I am sorry if this is not the advice you are wanting." She hrms. "I am understanding that those such as us and those such as you are sometimes being tied together. I am not thinking I am being tied to one such as you but...hmmm... I am knowing the Sorcery. It is being possible that I could be helping to be ...pointing you in the correct direction? but... It would be best to be warned that not all of us are being kind, like Fudou and I. Meeting one who is connected to you may not be ...going well."
Fudou the Mountain	"We are not the same. Solars and Lunars. we both are empowered by the most powerful of the gods but who can say to what end? You'll have to find your own path." cautions Fudou as he turns slightly, "I will say this.. If you wish answers then you should seek knowledge and speak with the thers. Bright Journey and those with her have discovered a great library. If you seek some guidance and comparison to the heroes of ages past, perhaps speak with them. It may well bd that you are not expanding your horizons far enough. There is more out there for you then..this." He indicates the camp, "Proud of it you may be..but perhaps it is not only Lionmen that stand ready to follow up." With that said, he nods his head to them both and turns, beginning to walk away slowly and ploddingly.
Raullaur	Raullaur considers and nods. "I suppose I can go--does the Sun have a temple? Or I suppose, just pray the best I can..." He shrugs. "Worst that happens is I get no answer, and I'm already there." He smiles and pats Rishi;s hand in return. "And I'm glad to hear advice. Have to consider it, mind, but it's good to have, thank you." "As for that library? Maybe. WIll see. And will see who else can, will, follow..." He grimace,s "But as good as we are, I know we cannot fight the Realm..."
Rishi	Rishi waves to Fudou and shouts "Be more of the subtle next time!" as he leaves Rishi shrugs "Then do not be fighting them. I am being told that the Realm is fighting itself right now and so they are not having the time to fight anyone else. This is being good for all of us who are living here, so I am not thinking anyone will be asking you to be provoking them. Still, Lookshy is being not friendly to those such as us, so it is still being better that you are not glowing in public." She flits up into the air for a moment, looking around rather theatrically, before landing. "It is looking like you and your people are doing well here, which is saying good things about your leadership. I would say that it is being better to be focusing on caring for your people than worrying about fighting some other nation you've never known. And, if any of you are needing the help of a healer, you may be finding me most often among the fruit stands in the markets of Great Forks. I am not the chosen who created your people, but ...it is good that one such as us should be there to be helping you."
Raullaur	"I won't. Not yet," Raul says. "Eventually...we might have to. And then I will. Until then..." He grins, "I don't glow in the city...just out in the field if I have to fight." FOr a moment, his forehead starts to gleam, showing the bright circle surrounded by the rays of the dawn sun, and then it fades. "And I'm glad to be knowing you, Rishi....and if you ever need a bunch of us to help out with something...let me know, ok?" He reaches out to pat her wings, almost caressing just a bit. "Look forward to getting to know you better."
Rishi	Rishi smiles, considering. "I might be taking you up on that. But, as I said, I am not being your mate, so please do not be thinking that I can be your balance." She sighs. "I am already trying to balance another. It is most complicated." She headtilts, thinking once more, "I am knowing the secrets of Sorcery. It is possible I can be helping you find your mate. I shall be needing to consider how best that should be done..." She looks over you, scanning over every inch of your body, with a suddenly piercing gaze. "...Yes, I am thinking that a small amount of your blood is being the best way to try to find the connection. Are you willing to give such to me? Or would you rather wait until we are ...knowing each other better?"
Raullaur	Raullaur chuckles then, and nods. "I get that, and glad to know it. As for a mate?" He shrugs, "It will be nice to find, but I have been told that it will likely not happen. Still, even if not my Mate, hope to have someone...close." He gives a nod, "And if you're balancing someone else, likely not you for that, either." He gives a grin and a deep chuckle. "Ah well...I have to try," he says with a rumbling purr. "As for the blood? I...want to know you more. If you can use it for sorcery...you can use it to affect me as well, yes?"
Rishi	Rishi nods. "To be creating something to allow you to find your mate, I would be needing to manifest the connection between your souls. The materials that are doing that... they could be giving me much power over you. You are being most wise to be cautious in that matter. Then, once we are trusting each other better, I shall offer you this service once more. Until then, I am wishing you luck that fate is bringing you together sooner."
Raullaur	"And I wish you success in...finding that balance for another," Raul replies. "And I hope you find what /you/ seek. And if you need someone to watch your back...let me know, all right?"
Rishi	Rishi nods. "I will." "So, if we are to be trying to trust one another, I would know more of you and your people. Where have you been coming from? Why are you being here now? What is being your favorite novel?" She perks up a fair amount at that last question. Seems she's also something of a reader.
Raullaur	"We come from the south, in the Savannahs between the forests and the deserts. As for here...the Guild had gone to capture my people. I...led the ones left behind to free them. We came here to...grow stronger. Win another homeland. ANd make sure the Guild never comes for us again. ANd if otherw want the same...glad to hire on. And novel?" He tilts his head. "I...don't know what that is."
Rishi	"Ah! I am also being from the South, the City of Ysyr, so..." she stops. "Ah, they are stories written down that you are reading for fun." She headtilts "Are you and your tribe not knowing of the reading and writing? Then you should be gathering them for lessons. I shall teach you of them, for they are being most useful!"
Raullaur	"Aha. Stories recorded as marks instead of memory. No...I don't know that. Maybe some of our loremasters do, but...if so, not many. And it will be...interesting to learn..." And the conversation veers off into life--the tribes of the wastes, the City of Ysyr, and more, to learn more of each other.