Log View

Source	Contents
Tepet Makara	Somewhere in the banks of the Yellow River, Cynis troops can be seen marching along while their winglord attempts to find a perfect spot for them to set up camp and train. "Winglord, why did we go all the way here? Isn't going to some random nation in the Hundred Kingdoms enough for us to train? Why did we go out here all the way near Nexus just to practice sparring blades and marching!" One of the legionnaires give a petty complaint regarding why they went here to some random river in the East. Their winglord who is still helmeted gives a very annoyed sigh. "You are soldiers of the Realm, not Cynis scions indulging in opium dens while sitting on expensive furniture! Your legion may belong to them, but that doesn't mean I won't enforce discipline!" The winglord sighs that these are his troops. The more he interacts with them, the more he wishes he'd rather train alone near the graves of his old legion. "Besides training in a new location, You are here to familiarize with the other locales East. Greyfalls may be in the Hundred Kingdoms, but training in new environments will help you fare better in an unfamiliar battlefield. I've been in worse lands such as the frigid North and you certainly don't want to underestimate the environment like the enemy"
Tepet Makara	Somewhere in the banks of the Yellow River, Cynis troops can be seen marching along while their winglord attempts to find a perfect spot for them to set up camp and train. "Winglord, why did we go all the way here? Isn't going to some random nation in the Hundred Kingdoms enough for us to train? Why did we go out here all the way near Nexus just to practice sparring blades and marching!" One of the legionnaires give a petty complaint regarding why they went here to some random river in the East. Their winglord who is still helmeted gives a very annoyed sigh. "You are soldiers of the Realm, not Cynis scions indulging in opium dens while sitting on expensive furniture! Your legion may belong to them, but that doesn't mean I won't enforce discipline!" The winglord sighs that these are his troops. The more he interacts with them, the more he wishes he'd rather train alone near the graves of his old legion. "Besides training in a new location, You are here to familiarize with the other locales in the East. Greyfalls may be in the Hundred Kingdoms, but training in new environments will help you fare better in an unfamiliar battlefield. I've been in worse lands such as the frigid North and you certainly don't want to underestimate the environment like the enemy"
Raullaur	Scouting reports had gone back to the city of Great Forks, and with a Realm army moving troops nearby, a response was needed. And so the Lions' Pride was sent to meet them. Infantry, it seems, with scouts spread out to the flanks and ahead. But the majority go down the main roads as well, in formation that any Legion would envy. Except...these are all leonine beastmen. Some might grumble, for that is the sacred right of any soldier, but they are excited, energized, at the possibility of a fight. And leading them is a lion who stands taller and broader than the others, golden beads braided into his mane. Unlike the troops, he wears no armor and bears no weapon, still, for all that, he seems calm enough, though watching everything intently. "Now...we don't want to start trouble, but if it starts, we'll finish it. The Thearchs don't want the Legions too close--that will draw the Realm and Lookshy both. So we want to...discourage them and get them to detour around. A fight can be fun, but I don't want to lose /any/ of you in something like this."
Tiziri	Somehow, almost at the point equally between the two forces? A wisp of a girl wearing some heavy robes and a headscarf to keep her ears warm sits crosslegged on a rock, her spear resting on her lap. It's almost like she's meditating or something. Or really, she is. Tiziri seems pretty relaxed for all that. There's even a jar that almost certainly holds some alcohol within reach of her hands. She's somehow not looking in the direction of either military force, but instead off into the distance away from either, which fortunately happens to be a nice open vista as a stray snowflakes flutter in the air as if threatening something worse, or just presenting a picaresque setting that's hard to deny. Whatever the case, if blood is shed this day then it shall create a stark contrast all the same. Either way, as long as the forces continue moving at the same rate, they'll meet almost precisely where she is, somehow.
River Jewel	The more that River Jewel thinks about the situation she's heard, the more concerned is. Of course, River Jewel is not coming to a place like this. Instead, the physician appointed to the Lion's Pride, Garnet, is. Never mind that she looks very similar to a few other people! The young's dressed in pristine, scholarly white robes with emerald trim, bearing the crest of Great Forks's House of Healing, and carrying a small bag of supplies and tools. Because anywhere a military force goes, they must have some support. What might be strange is that she's walking not far from Raullaur. A good few paces behind and an arm's length to his left. "It is so strange. I was under the impression that Lookshy does not allow the Realm to field its military or Wyld Hunt in the River Province? ... Though it would not be the first time the Realm has decided to test the limits."
Tepet Makara	"Winglord, we spotted some lion beastmen up ahead. Do we engage or.." Before the legionnaire that reported the findings can even finish, his winglord disrupts them. "Leonine beastmen you say? It is better if we learn why they are here instead of suddenly attacking them. Remember what I told you about the Battle Of Futile Blood, for it is a lesson that the legion's lives...no, your lives shouldn't be wasted lest all the legions will falter which will lead to the heart of the Realm being defenseless" He commands the soldiers to hold their position while commanding one of the troops to message their leader. "You, hand over this message to their leader to prevent a misunderstanding." The winglord whose face is still obscured by the helmet writes a quick letter to be given to the beastman leader in hopes that nothing goes wrong. As the scout delivers the letter, the contents of the message is. "We apologize for this disturbance in case it disturbs the nearby Eastern nations. This is merely a military exercise with no ill intent to the sovereign nations of the East such as Lookshy, Sijan and Great Forks. I personally hope to speak with your leader in their behalf as we hope our training regiment does not result in very fatal misunderstandings that could lead to losses in both sides" The letter does not give away the winglord's name however whether it is deliberate or a mistake.
Raullaur	Raullaur looks down at the messenger and his muzzle curls back as he takes the letter. He opens it, and frowns at the meaningless markings, starting to growl with restrained frustration. After a moment, eh turns around, and points at Garnet. "You! Come here. Read this to me, so that this dead message may be brought to life in the voice and breath of someone."
Tiziri	The woman on the rock reaches for her jar of wine and pulls out the stopper before taking a deep draw from it. Then she plugs it back up and places it back down. She's still shown now indication of seeing either side yet. She even seems like she doesn't notice the messenger moving past her. So it's an interesting thing. She continues to just seem to meditate, or at least stare into the distance. When suddenly she pulls a sheet of paper out of her robes and places it in front of herself, using the wine jar to hold it down as she in turn takes out a brush and inkstone. Finally she uses a touch of water to get it wet and starts to write something upon it.
River Jewel	It would seem that Garnet can almost instantly realize the problem the moment that Raullaur starts to growl. She is hurrying over even before he motions for her. Gingerly she takes it and her eyes scan back and forth. She begins reciting it word for word... And once that's completed, she blinks a few times, folding the parchment and tilts her head. "This is curiously... civil, isn't it? I had expected they would demand we turn away. Strange though. It isn't signed. Who is in charge of this operation...?" Well. She is no tactician. Just a girl with some very good common sense. She turns to Raullaur, awaiting his call.
Tepet Makara	The scout who delivered the message seems to be rather fearful of the lionmen, possibly out of hearing too much horror stories about the Threshold. "I shall leave now and the winglord awaits you near the shores of the Yellow River if you do plan to meet him" The soldier gulps as he gestures to the camp's direction and leaves for now. Meanwhile the winglord watches from the distance while hoping it all goes well once the scout leaves. "My lord are you sure talking to him privately is safe? We know beastmen are unpredictable beings" The winglord then harshly corrects them "They are people, not wyld beings. When their leader arrives, I expect you all to not mess this up. Also bring me that bottle of Eagle's Launch wine I kept in my bag"
River Jewel	Expecting a need to deliver a message in reply, Garnet starts digging through her bags to draw out some parchment. She also produces, from it, a very fancy-looking brush. Curiously, no inks in sight...
Raullaur	"Only one way to find out. Even if they attack, I expect they cannot hurt me. Or if they can, they will not kill me." Raullaur chuckles somewhat. "You had better come with me, and I can make sure you are safe as well. Hopefully, he'll come with a single assistant as well...If not, well..." He looks at the others, "Scouts: maintain watch! Troops! Hold here. If fighting breaks out, maintain defense, until called!" And after issueing theorders, he strides out, walking easily towards the river where there is a broad area between the two forces.
Tiziri	Even as the messenger passes again Tiziri continues to just sit there on the rock. Now she's starting to look back and forth between the two armies. An enigmatic sort of smile on her countenance as she does. A deep breath is taken, and she almost seems like she is preparing for something.
River Jewel	Garnet follows along with Raullaur, keeping one and a half arm-lengths of distance. She does have to hustle though because Raullaur's much larger and his legs are longer! Still, she's not going to appear even the least bit sweaty once everyone's up close in speaking distance... Once they are all up close, she's wearing quite a game face. A pleasant smile, but sharp eyes that are unlikely to miss anything.
Tepet Makara	As the lionman walks to the vicinity of the Cynis legionnaires, you see they are setting up camp and some have already practiced sparring their spears and blades. The Cynis soldiers give him odd looks whether out of curiousity for they've never seen a beastman before or out of distrust for mutants. The scout from earlier awaits the two to inform him of where the winglord is. "The winglord waits you just near the riverbed, He even told us not to have guards with him which is strange even for us. He even told me not to go with him, even if I'm his usual messenger for scout business." He stares at the winglord standing near the Yellow River's shores at a distance. although his face is still hidden by his helmet
Raullaur	"If the Winglord wishes peace, I have no desire to spill blood needlessly. As long as none attack us, we shall keep the peace here as well," Raullaur says to the scout, nodding and then beckoning to Garnet to follow as his his tail flicks behind him, until he gets to the riverbed. "Winglord! You called to meet. And so I, Raullaur, the Golden Lion, am here! Tell us more, for Great Forks is wary."
Tiziri	Hopping off the rock with her jar of wine in one hand and spear in the other, Tiziri ends up looking towards Raul and Makara. "Salutations." She greets in her Dreaming Sea accent that's almost more obvious now with the slightest slur of drunkeness. "Glad you're talking. It's a lot better than fighting." She says. Making very sure she's between them both. She seems oddly casual about the whole thing too.
Tepet Makara	The winglord takes off his helmet while greeting the lionman once they are in the river's shores where no one can hear them. The reveal shows a very familiar face for it is the "water aspected" Tepet dynast that typically visits Great Forks. "Ah welcome Raul, I apologize for my soldiers' arrival that may alarm the city states and nations here. It's another annual military exercise since Greyfalls sometimes does this out in the East." He gives a hearty laugh while getting what seems to be a bottle of wine with a V'neef mons attached to it and also brings out some glasses. "I see you have some familiar and unknown faces with you" He turns his attention to Tiziri while looking at Garnet, who he does not recognize at all for this is his first time meeting her.
Raullaur	Raullaur snorts with a bit of surprise as he sees Tiziri. "Greetings, yourself, Tiziri...and yes, talking is better than fighting...as long as you are prepared to fight still." He flicks his tail behind and brushes close to Garnet with it as he looks back to the Winglord. "Tepet Makara. As long as you stay away from Great Forks, the Thearchs will be happy. And I get paid. Is there a way you can go to get the same training just not too close of Great Forks? Sure the terrain is worse as you get away from the river, but that just makes it better training." Lips curl up, sohwing hsarp fangs, in the approximation of a smile.
Tiziri	Tiziri makes sure she's staying between the two. Though at least for the moment her entire posture is very relaxed. This only helped by how a jar of wine is currently held in one hand. She ends up using her teeth to help pull out the stopper and sip it again. Thankfully it it attached by a string too. She takes a draw from it and then holds it out first towards Raullaur. "Of course." She smiles almost ferally. "Want a drink? I find it helps talking to people." Then towards Makara she smiles too. "Raullaur is good people. I take you know him. So let's keep this civil. It's why I'm here." A pause, "You can have a drink too if you'd like."
River Jewel	Garnet has pulled out a small stack of parchment. As people talk, that brush she had brandished earlier is... zipping about on its own over the parchment stack, rapidly transcribing everyone's words, using different handwriting styles and colors for different people... Garnet herself is sketching things on a different piece of parchment meanwhile. Who knows just WHAT she's drawing, but she keeps glancing up and back down to her work...
Tepet Makara	"I do plan to find a perfect training spot in the East and apologies to the Thearchs in advance if it alarms them. The reason for the military exercise isn't for intimidation but rather to enhance the protection of the Golden Road under commands of my satrap, which is a trade route to the Far East especially Ixcoatli. They found the Yellow River to be a fitting place since it's near Nexus but it seems it has complications for other city states. We will leave if it does cause some problems but hopefully the situation is deescalated." He pours in some of the Eagle's Launch wine in the glasses while taking one of the filled glass for himself. "And yeah, training them in a harsh part of the river is a great idea for them to adapt in harsh environments. I'm amused half of them think travelling by foot throughout the East is hard, even though the North is far more unforgiving like what I experienced." He chuckles regarding his legionnaires' complaints despite there being far worse hardships.
Raullaur	"You have to pass Great Forks to get to Nexus. And that will draw Lookshy. Is that what you want?" Raullaur takes the drink and sips, before nodding with approval. Maybe take the southern fork of the river and go upstream instead?" He grins, "Unless you /want/ to incite Lookshy to send /its/ Legions out as well Which could well turn the world on end." He looks at Garnet, then Tiziri. "What doyou think...follow smaller tributaries north or south, rather when downstream towards Great Forks, Nexus, and Lookshy?"
Tiziri	Taking a deep breath, Tiziri shrugs as her offer of a drink to the others is ignored. Either way, she takes a bigger swig of it now. She's still seeming all too relaxed as she stands there leaning on her spear and holding a jar of wine in her other hand. "I admit, I've yet to walk in the North. Winter does suck. But so does walking in the deepest desert. I don't think I can really give a good opinion on which is worse. Water all around, but cold. Or no water and hot. Footing bad in either. They both are pretty bad."
Tepet Makara	"Hmmm, despite Greyfalls past cooperation with Lookshy, their relations with the Realm are still strained so I will have to consider it" He gives an assuring nod while drinking his own glass of V'neef made wine. "We mostly have been in the Northern parts of the East but the South will do. Hopefully we can move there by tomorrow but not surprised if my soldiers get fatigue from travel again" He laughs again as he expect his soldiers will have tons of complaints again "Since we already set up camp, hope you don't mind us training here but we will change to the southern parts tomorrow. Hope there is a chance where both our troops can work together but I doubt if there's an opportunity"