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Tolon The day is late and Tolon has once again settled into his tent earlier than most. It's a common trend for the chief. Social, charismatic and energetic the man seems to have no shortage of friends and pastimes, yet he often leaves their company early. Leaving them to their small gatherings of strange games, stories and surprisingly often fights. Once again he returns to hos tent, he carries his saddle bag and bow. The bow gaining the most interest, being made of Orichalcum. He ducks into his tent quietly, a small light illuminating the canvas and suggesting he isn't sleeping.
Caeleen Selena Selena's been in and out of the camp - or so it would seem. Some hours she can be found, and at others she's nowhere to be seen!

Of course, this is because she's been slinking around as some inconspicuous animal or another. Observing people and habits. Most especially, Tolon's.

But now, she slips out of the early evening shadows and approaches Tolon's tent in human form.

The second sighting of Orichalcum in such a short time has piqued her curiosity - just how is it that two bearers of Orichalcum weaponry could find each other like this.

And, instead of rudely pulling the tent flap aside, this time she adopts an idle but elegant posture with a knee upraised and her head tossed backwards to cast an alluring silhouette against the tent. "Burning the midnight oil alone tonight, Tolon? Mind company?" She casts the words his way with a melodious and suggestive quality, utterly playing the vixen.

Tolon Tolon seems tired when Selena first enters. He's leaning over a book in deep thought, yet he quickly slips the book into a pack resting at his side. He smiles to Selena. "Of course not join me. There is water, milk or wine if you are thirsty." He turns to give his full attention to Selena. "What brings you here tonight Anathema?" There's absolutely no emphasis to the previously forbidden word. It's said with an utter indifference as he motions to the aforementioned drinks and a seat.
Caeleen Selena "...Manners, warrior. Manners." Selena lightly reminds him the moment she hears that word, but she pulls the flap back and slips in nonetheless, and looks around for any sort of seat. Failing it though, she'll find a comfortable fur or tarp or whatever there is and smoothly seat herself.

"Well, I could say that dashing countenance of yours, but that wouldn't be the whole truth." Is... is she being genuine or sarcastic? It's hard to tell what with the grin she sprouts... but her words are light and airy.

"I noticed you've gotten your hands on quite a weapon... one that not just anyone could use. You should take care displaying such things. There's eyes and ears everywhere."

Tolon Tolon grins to Selena, watching her as she comfortable. "Manners? You threatened me in my camp last time I called you Anathema. That couldn't be allowed to stand. I find it bad manners not to uphold a threat. I also never got so much as a name from you during our last meeting." He watches her as she speaks, only taking his of her to glance at his bow. "It is an extremely effective weapon. Though I am still becoming used to it. If I cannot use such a thing here among my people then I cannot use it anywhere."
Caeleen Selena "Such a proud man. You know, not many are brave enough to contradict a so-called 'Anathema' to her face. You know the tales, don't you? The moon-mad devils who rip off a man's skin to wear it ourselves..." Selena transitions to a crawl and then rises to slowly circle around Tolon in slow, fluid steps. Throughout the display, she has a few different things to say, while gazing at him from different angles.

"But, something tells me that you have a reason to be fearless, and not believe everything of these tales..."

She attempts to close in from the side, slowly and smoothly, placing both hands on his nearest shoulder and leaning her entire torso in while grinning mischeviously! An angle that puts herself playfully on display if he just turns his eyes a little...

"It has me, Selena, very curious!"

From here, she taps a singular finger on the shoulder.

Tolon "I know my strengths and take pride in them." Tolon lets her circle him, turning only as she moves to press herself against him. He meets her eyes as she taps his shoulder. "I am pleased to meet you Selena. Even if you do play with your words more than I care to." He grins an amused smile as he looks her over. "You are smarter than I no doubt, speak plainly to the uneducated savage." He turns to face her full on as he speaks, leaning in just a touch closer.
Caeleen Selena That 'accusation' gets Selena to close her eyes briefly and giggle for the duration, before opening them and tapping her finger again! "You live but once. Enjoy every moment of it, I say! But ah, you do yourself a disservice. 'Savage.' A meaningless word... the people of the city use it for the people of the land. The opposite is mostly true too. Still. Your thoughts are straight as the arrows you must shoot so well, while mine wind every which way like the snake in the grass."

"I'll tell you something you may not know about that bow. I know that metal. It can only be used by those who are... hm. More than they appear. Those who can feel more than air moving through them when they breathe. You can feel it, don't you? The flows of the winds, the rivers, the earth, the sun and the moon."

Tolon Tolon studies Selena. "I truly hope that isn't true. I suspect there is far too much to do in a single life time." He tilts his head at Selena's words. "I disagree. Words hold an intent to shape a thing. The form they see is shaped by the words they use and what they have made them mean. That is why you find Anathema disgusting, it carries their intent to make you into something... wrong, it is why I find savage amusing, it attempts to twist what I am."

He smiles warmly as he looks her, his expression thoughtful. "I can honestly say I wasn't familiar with the metal, though the bow has shot for me alone." His own expression becomes mischievous now. "Is that what brought you here tonight, my bow?" He grins. "I don't know if I should commend your taste in weaponry or feel disappointed my company isn't compelling enough."

Caeleen Selena "Mhhhhhhh.... only a fool would look at a warrior and see only their weapon. Especially when the weapon is sunmetal. Orichalcum, I believe is the scholarly word." She goes on to clarify a little, bunching her shoulders up and donning a playful smile!

"Ah, why am I here though... Of all the nomads I could be visiting, it is your clan. Of all the men out there, it is your tent I'm visiting tonight. Why indeed? It could be that your interests and mine align."

Tolon Tolon shrugs. "None of the other clans are like this one. Nor have any of their members done what I have." His tone shifts as he mock whispers. "Your thoughts a beginning to slither again Selena. I am very much aware that snakes in the grass are often dangerous." He places his hand over one of hers. "Tell me, what are your interests? And how do you think they may align with my own?"
Caeleen Selena Selena doesn't pull her hand away, instead entwining her fingers a little with Tolon's, one by one. "When you look at the hundred little nations to the North of here, and the others that lay along the great river, what do you see? What do you think of those who call themselves the lords of it?"
Tolon Tolon arches an eyebrow at the question. "An interesting question. I have traveled many of those Kingdoms. The Kete recognise few borders. I have raided them and watched as they attacked us in turn." He frowns in thought. "Later I lived among them and warred with them." He pauses a moment. "Individually they are clumsy, poorly disciplined, soft and slow. Prey for skilled raiders. Their towns and villages are corrupt and greedy. The fat and wealthy feed on the poor and weak. The poor and the weak let them because they are afraid, they hope the strong will protect them because it's easier than becoming strong." There's obvious contempt to his words. "They have become complacent at both ends." He smiles. "The cities along the river? They are often less clumsy, more disciplined and better equipped, not such good prey for raiders, but good for trade. Otherwise they are no different from the others."
Caeleen Selena "Mmmmh... mostly right! There is a little more to it. The demands the fat and wealthy place on the poor and the weak keeps them poor and weak. Short of leaving these lands altogether, they have little hope of anything changing."

"... I see much the same. It is as you say... when viewed distantly. I grew up in these places though. I was... a child of what one might call nobility, before I became something much greater and left it behind."

"Perspective is a very funny thing, Tolon. Where you view a thing from changes how you think of it drastically. Aren't I much lovelier up close than further away, for example?" Her voice takes on a mischevious and alluring lilt for that sudden comment, but she just as quickly continues her explanation.

"... I want to see what these people can be like when they aren't so pressured by the fat slugs. And see the slugs wriggling on the ground like the worms they are, instead of sitting on thrones."

Tolon "They could take what is theirs. They have numbers and means, they lack only will." He tilts his head. "You are right. I will never understand them. If I went and tried to take what was theirs from my people then they would fight me. I doubt any of them could stop me or think they could, but I would have to fight them for what is theirs. That is why it is theirs." He chuckles. "You are undeniably lovely, I suspect at any distance. Though I also suspect the nature of that appeal changes." He smiles briefly before continuing. "Remove one fat slug and another will replace it. The system creates such slugs. To remove the slugs you must change the system."
Caeleen Selena "Perhaps you're right... but doing nothing hardly appeals to me." Selena answers with a resigned sigh. "It is not like I haven't thought of that... either way, this is where we could work together. After all, what does a raider need before he goes charging in?"
Tolon Tolon smiles as he looks Selena over thoughtfully. "You think to offer information I suppose." He tilts his head with a grin. "I never said I would do nothing. If the only way to clear out the taint is to change the system, then I shall change the system." He says that as though it would be that simple. "The system requires they believe their lords can protect them." His expression becomes hard his eyes once again meeting Selena's "I plan to hound them to lay a fury upon them that shall fill them with terror and show them beyond any doubt that none of their fat lords, none of their wealthy merchants or pitiful walls can slow my fury." He rises moving with the easy grsce and efficiency of motion that marks the truly great weapon masters. When he continues it's with the same hard tone, though a hint of sadness taints the edges of his words. "I shall use the Kete as a lash with which to drive the weak to strength. To tear down the system that keeps them weak." He turns back to Selena. "What I need to learn is how to build the systems, how to create something for cities that will work. I fear that is not something I know."
Caeleen Selena "That's the hard part. Breaking stuff is usually much easier than building it. I am educated in such matters... though, not as much as one would like to be. Still... my people live very long lives, when they're not cut short by misadventure or the Wyld Hunt. With age comes experience and wisdom! There's no need to have ALL the answers NOW... provided you don't make a bigger mess than you can clean up." Selena announces musingly...

Then, quite out of nowhere, she twirls about like a dancer with her hand still intertwined with Tolon's, and kind of lazily drapes her other arm over his shoulder for behind in a sorta lazy-piggyback posture.

"And you're right, information is a very valuable commodity. One I'm well-suited to gathering... and manipulating. And I've learned much from my time here... though, it's surprising to see a nomad leader whose tent has no family in it. You are young, strong, and not hard on the eyes. Where are the proud wives and the kids running around?"

Tolon Tolon laughs at the question. "Until fairly recently, I lived in exile. I returned to war." He continues to glance out at his camp. "I never planned any of this. I rode from my clan intent on bringing back those taken during our war with the Hundred Kingdoms. Thirteen rode with me, unasked... After more joined over time my vision and my clan grew. As you have noted I am a warrior and far from skilled in the arts of leadership. It is time consuming and tiring." He turns suddenly in her arms, so he's facing her. "And what do you plan to do with that information you have gathered?"
Caeleen Selena Oooooh. Selena blinks a few times as Tolon turns to face her, leaving them mischeviously close together... practically like a couple that's about to dance. Her smile turns impish and playful.

"nothing terrible. Your people appeal to me, so I will not act contrary to them!"