Offline
Apr 29, 2024 17:46:55 GMT
CST
Tag me @cheshire
|
|
Post by Cheshire on Jul 21, 2021 19:30:35 GMT
NPC Vertok King and Queen TAGS: Abyss kaz The morning was unusually stifling. It seemed as if the sun, giver of life, desired to remove her gift. It beat down with an unforgiving heat that left the air scorching and the ground hot to the touch. Conri lay in the supple shade of the cave the Vertok called home. His grey eyes, weary with age and the events of life, peered out into the blaze on the lookout for the return of the Queen, studying each flicker of movement with apprehension. Rieka had not been content to simply wait for the messengers’ return. She could not stand still while their pack suffered. Before long, she had been on her feet and on patrol. Their mountain, especially at the higher altitudes, offered little protection from the ever-present heat. It had always been difficult to traverse the higher levels, but now, it was nothing short of impossible. She glared at the peaks as she passed as if by doing so she might gain passage. There was nothing she could do to fix the situation. A fact that only frustrated her. Her patrol brought her to the border where she paced awaiting the return of the messengers. Conri had advocated they send them out in the belief that they fix the situation better with the assistance of all the packs. The Queen did not think the same. What use were the villainous Sanzin or the bizarre Au’Dar with their weird little animals. Nonetheless, Conri had talked her into it and now she waited. She watched one then another messenger cross the neutral territory, changing course once they spotted her. “Welcome back. King Conri waits at the den site. We will hear your news there.” Turning tail, she led the exhausted messengers back to the den site. The King heaved a sigh of relief as the click click of claws on stone reached his ears. Through the heated air, the blurry shape of Rieka made its steady way to the cave entrance. Melting into shape behind her came the two messengers the Vertok had sent out. One to the Sanzin. Another to the Au’Dar. Rising, Conri left his post to meet the returning messengers. The stone burned lightly against his paw pads as he stepped into the light, a constant reminder of their troubles with every step. “Hail. Did they accept the meeting summons?” He had hoped to never have to call for an emergency meeting during his reign, but it seemed life would not be so kind. Conri did not know how the other packs had been affected by the drought. Regardless, it would be in their best interests to fix it together or so he hoped. The messenger sent to the Sanzin step forward, “The Sanzin have agreed. They will be present at the emergency meeting.”The Au’Dar messenger stepped forward next, “The Au’Dar have also agreed. They will be present at the emergency meeting.”Conri nodded, relief awash over his features, “Good work you two. Go rest, you earned it.” The two messengers bowed to the King and Queen before making their way into the cool shade of the dens, leaning on each other for strength. “That was unexpected,” Rieka said, her eyes on the retreating backs of the weary messengers. “I never thought those two disagreeable packs would agree to this meeting.”“It is for the better. We will not have to face this alone.” Conri turned his gaze skywards. The unforgiving flames of the sun and a cloudless sky seeming to promise worse things ahead. He could only hope whatever it was, the pack could weather it.
King Conri and Queen Rieka, dual leaders of the Vertok, pushed through the brush that grew protectively over the opening in the roots of the Central Oak. The other side presented them with an open, circular space large enough for a dozen wolves to sit comfortably enclosed on all sides by the roots and trunk of the great tree. The historic meeting spot provided privacy to its occupants, allowing the pack leaders to deliberate without prying eyes. A cluster of thick bushes hid the sole entrance to the alcove. Though each pack provided one wolf to stand guard on the other side of the entrance, the only attendees to the meeting would be the pack leaders. The King and Queen took a spot in the circle to await the arrival of their fellow pack leaders. “It appears we are the first to arrive,” Conri spoke, studying their surroundings from where he sat. This was not his first meeting, but it was the first emergency meeting he had ever attended. It lacked any of the festivities that usually lightened the air of an otherwise tense events. All that was left was a suffocating air of apprehension. Rieka scoffed, “Who knows if those two will even show up.” The Queen had chosen to remain standing, not wanting to relax her guard. After what the Sanzin had done five years ago and the Au’Dar’s strange behavior, she had no end of doubts when it came to that lot. She knew for sure that if they showed any weakness, either pack was more than willing to make them pay for it. Conri glanced at the Queen. Her will to fight bellied his more defensive nature. Their contrast made them work all the better together. The Vertok King turned his gaze back towards the entrance, “Have faith. They will come.”
|
|
Abyss
Offline
May 17, 2024 19:15:01 GMT
EST
Tag me @abyss
|
|
Post by Abyss on Jul 22, 2021 3:39:46 GMT
[googlefont=Cinzel][googlefont=Cinzel Decorative] ARTEMIS Female Suit of the Sanzin It had only been a day or two since the unfortunate event with the pack’s water had been reported to her and investigated. The land was going dry, and, if the current weather was any indication, things would not be looking up any time soon. Those of the Sanzin had thankfully been able to find a solution, but said solution was temporary. One could only go so long drinking nothing but sea water before problems began to arise. And these problems were beginning to show their face already within the den of the Queen of Hearts.
The large white Leader had been laying within the shade of the pack’s main hub when a particularly loud pair of growls found her ears. Upon turning her head, she found two of her own approaching, rather angered, or perhaps defensive, expressions on their faces.
“Someone is here. From the Vertok.” There was a silence that set in within the clearing. The Suit remained silent, staring at the two wolves for a moment. Should they be telling the truth, this was a rather peculiar event, especially out of the blue like this. Had they included that said someone was at their borders, perhaps she would have brushed them off. But they did not. In fact, only a few moments after there was a very faint scent that brushed against her nostrils, one that was both familiar and unknown.
She, as well as two of her Aces, had barely traveled outside of the small wood when they spotted the wolf that the others had spoke of. From scent alone it was indeed a wolf of the Vertok, but what were they doing so far out of their own territory, and so far into the Sanzin’s?
A very brief discussion was held between the white she-wolf and the stranger of the other pack. From what they said, an emergency meeting was being called, one to be held with only the Leaders of the three packs. It was interesting to her, considering she had never actually attended one of the usual pack meetings. She had become the Suit of her pack right after the most recent pack meeting, which was months ago by now. Strange how it felt as though she had been Leader longer than that. But no matter. This messenger included to state that the meeting had been called specifically by the King of the Vertok, a brute named Conri. She had heard this name many times in the past, for he had been a Leader of the other pack for quite a while. She had not met him herself, but from what she heard, he was older and quite passive in nature.
They claimed that a messenger had also been sent to the Au’Dar, and the intention was to discuss the two primary issues that seemed to be plaguing their valley collectively, the primary one being the drought. With a polite nod, the large she-wolf agreed to attend the meeting. As much as she wished to save meeting the other Leaders for the official meeting of the packs, she couldn’t just push aside the fact that her wolves were growing weaker and dehydrated, despite their use of the ocean water. --------------- Large paws walked onward towards where unfamiliar woods lay ahead. Though she had heard many tales, Artemis had never personally been to the Central Oak. Apparently this was a sacred place, one where many important events and meetings had happened in the past. It sent a small wave of accomplishment through her at the thought that she was arriving to this location as one of the head voices rather than a mere escort.
With two of her Aces, one of which being the newest addition to her little collection, walking to either side slightly behind her, the large white wolf pushed her way through the brush surrounding the tree. Very quickly the scent of Vertok found her nose, though she found no other scents presenting themselves broadly. Perhaps it was only the Vertok Leaders who were present for now. A flick of her tail signalled for her two guards to remain where they were outside of the meeting place. She caught movement of what she could only presume were Vertok guards not too far away, but they were no concern of hers.
A large black nose pushed through the final layer of bush and root as she emerged into a medium-sized clearing. She took only a moment to look around, admiring the way the roots of the large tree formed a sort of intricate wall around the gathering place. It was very clear why such a place held so much importance between all of the packs.
It was then that the snow white wolf’s bright yellow gaze lowered from the tree to find two figures standing before her. One was a somewhat smaller wolf, a faded orange-brown color in coat, and more feminine features. The other was a larger male, not much smaller than herself, with a dark but grayed pelt, indicating age. This must be the rumored Conri.
Turn it on.
With a charming yet open smile, Artemis took a few steps forward, bringing herself into the lighter portion of the clearing where the others stood. She gave a very brief nod of greeting to the King and Queen of the opposing pack.
“Greetings.” Her gaze scanned around them, curious as to if the lack of water had affected the sacred tree as much as it had been doing so to the rest of the valley. From what she saw on the journey here, at least. “Rather unfortunate circumstances we find ourselves meeting under.”
Her gaze met theirs once more, taking brief notice of the less welcoming aura emanating from the other she-wolf compared to her partner. “I am Artemis, Suit of the Sanzin.”
"Speaking." Thinking. 971
|
|
|
Post by kaz on Jul 23, 2021 2:19:00 GMT
POWER, POWER · THE LAW OF THE LAND In the dawn, before the rising sun had once again wrought its fury upon the world came the news. She sat alone in her new quarters the new Empress, her shelter protecting her only from the earliest and latest parts of day; the heat could not be avoided anywhere when it reached its apex. What horrible irony to have to endure such a drought so early on in her already turbulent and fragile leadership. This morning promised a difficult day; the air was dry on her tongue like sand and she felt she would rather lie here and wait it out than have to drag her body up and out into the light. And perhaps she would have, given the chance. Arzanoth sat overhead, preening his feathers and occasionally fitting Akala with a look of curiosity. She thought he must not know how this was affecting her and the others; his kind was much more fit to survive without fresh water, flying high in the mountains, gaining most of their hydration from their prey. Down here in more fertile lands he was spoiled for water. Wolves too gained much of their hydration from prey, particularly wolves living in the arctic where running water was far less common. But the prey had felt the dryness of the land, had felt the earth cracking beneath them, opening up to swallow whatever it could. The sun had turned against it, had turned its gift into a weapon. And many of the creatures that once called this home had left for greener pastures. Akala was not a particularly religious wolf, but still, one had to wonder. It was Wamika who broke Akala’s reverie, snapped her back into reality, a reality that was dry and desolate and hopeless. A meeting, she said, a wolf at the border, Vertok, messenger, drought. Akala listened, seemingly unperturbed, flicking her ear in acknowledgement. She sat for a moment, staring out into the trees, watching Arzanoth lackadaisically cleaning his feathers, the terrible sun rising fast and hot behind him. Her gaze turned back to the Wamika, and behind her to the den site, to the wolves who were all as hungry and thirsty as she. She knew already she would be attending, if only to assert herself as leader of the new Au’Dar. An introduction would need to be made. There wasn’t anything these wolves could do about a drought lest some wolf among them held communion with the gods, whatever gods those were. Though the thought of interacting with the Vertok scum made her pelt burn, Akala lifted herself to her haunches and moved past Wamika, motioning with her tail for the woman to follow. Their exit elicited some curious looks from some of the more prying Au’Dar wolves, but Akala paid them no mind, and disappeared into the trees. · · · She was vaguely familiar with the route to the great oak tree, having once been invited as a young wolf to sit amongst the brush and wonder at what could be going on behind those immense roots. Even then she had felt an itching to be there, to speak and be heard, to have her words hold power and weight. And now here she was. Ahead, she could see the bark, massive and sprawling in every direction; it seemed even larger to her now and she did take a moment to marvel at it, but the fancy passed quickly. Arzanoth flapped lazily behind her, though had to land and awkwardly walk and hop beside her as her pace slowed. It was not a flattering look for the beast, and she imagined he knew it. Lining the exterior of the oak were wolves from other packs, somewhat hidden between the brush and in the shadow the great tree cast. Guards, surely. Akala glanced briefly at one if only to discern their purpose but gave the others no attention, her gaze set only on the entrance to the meeting. She paused a moment just before, her heart lifting within her. “Wamika,” she murmured. “You will come with me. You are no guard.” This last word hinted at some disdain. She did not hold Wamika as something so lowly as just a simple guard. And with that, she pushed through the entrance. It wasn’t difficult to discern who was who. The pair were obviously Vertok, and these two she regarded with an especially cold look, but kept the emotion from her face. Calculating gaze turned to the other wolf who appeared to be getting acquainted with the Vertok snakes. Sanzin, surely. More friendly than Akala would have expected from such a delinquent pack of wolves. Perhaps just a farce. Akala didn’t trust the lot of them, regardless. She moved, slowly, to a spot unoccupied and sat, wrapping her tail around her paws, and looked on the scene with a disinterested expression. Arzanoth landed upon the large root behind her, his black eyes casting damnation onto the wolves below. Let the games begin. THOSE LIVING FOR DEATH · WILL DIE BY THEIR OWN HAND
|
|
Offline
Apr 29, 2024 17:46:55 GMT
CST
Tag me @cheshire
|
|
Post by Cheshire on Dec 28, 2021 17:50:20 GMT
NPC Vertok King Conri and Queen Rieka TAGS: Abyss kaz The aged Vertok King found himself breathing a sigh of relief as the rustle of the curtain of bushes reached his ears. Despite what he had voiced, Conri still held some concerns as to whether the other leaders woulda arrive or not. The world-worn brute rose from his seated position to greet the arriving leader as they passed through the gate. Much to his surprise, he was met with a different wolf than he had expected. The wolf that appeared before him and Rieka was neither the Sanzin Suit nor the Au'Dar Centurion that had been present at the last Three Packs Meeting. The large snow-white fae introduced herself as Artemis the Sanzin Suit with a charming smile. Her appearance and demeanor were a stark contrast to the lazy brute Conri had become accustomed to in his three years as Vertok King. He supposed he shouldn't have been surprised. The Sanzin's tumultuous nature was well-known. While the Vertok and Au'Dar leaders rarely changed, being a position a wolf usually held for life, the Sanzin's leadership was always in question. To his knowledge, this would be the third Suit in his lifetime though he had only met one other. In his surprise, Conri found his greeting delayed, "Ah, yes. Greetings, Artemis. My name is Conri, Vertok's King."Rieka's gaze was sharp and unfriendly as she looked over the new arrival. She had been to one Three Packs Meeting in her reign. The wolf that had introduced themself as Suit then was most certainly not the same wolf now. That wolf had been a depraved brute lacking in manners. This one was quite different. She could not help but be suspicious of the practiced smile the fae presented. The Sanzin were snakes that was for certain. No matter how charming the smile, she couldn't trust this vixen one bit. Nevertheless, she could feel Conri's pointed gaze on her urging her to introduce herself. "I am the Vertok's Queen, Rieka." The Vertok Queen's wary gaze followed the Suit as they moved. The Queen's eyes only left the Suit as the sound of another's entry into the circle reached her ears. The wolf that padded through the entrance was again another new face. Though they said nothing, not even a greeting, it was easy enough to ascertain that this was the Au'Dar Centurion by the vulture at their tail. But this was not the Au'Dar Centurion that had greeted them at the previous Three Packs Meeting but a new face. Rieka found herself rather confused as the last Centurion had not seemed to be aging or desiring to retire. The Au'Dar were a stable pack and unlikely to face the same chaos as the Sanzin. This sudden change in leadership was bizarre to the Vertok Queen. That confusion soon changed to fury as a second wolf stepped into the arena following the first. She could not help but bark out in anger, "How dare you bring another with you! You dare to disregard the sacred law!" Rieka demanded of the silent Centurion, her furious gaze on the outsider. While the arrival of extra company also concerned the King, he was quick to placate the situation, "Calm yourself, Rieka. They appear to be new." Though he was quick to bury his own confusion in response to Rieka's outburst, Conri was just as befuddled by the appearance of this fae and her vulture. The previous Centurion had made no notice of vacating their throne. It seemed unlikely that a coup had taken place in the Au'Dar given the pack's long history of stability. This newcomer brought all manner of questions to Conri's mind as to whether or not the withdrawn Au'Dar were okay. He hoped this was not a sign of more difficulties to come. "Perhaps they are simply unaware of the rules of an Emergency Meeting." His wizened eyes turned towards the Centurion, "Only the pack leaders are allowed to attend an Emergency Meeting." His gaze turned to the accompanying fae, "Your guard is free to wait outside with the others." Conri had expected trouble. The Sanzin were not prone to aiding others and the Au'Dar could be difficult at times, but since he had known the previous leaders, he had thought things might work out. The current situation was beyond anything he could have expected. Not only had the Sanzin changed leadership but the Au'Dar as well. And now they were off to a rocky start. The Vertok King could only hope things would work out in the end.
|
|
Abyss
Offline
May 17, 2024 19:15:01 GMT
EST
Tag me @abyss
|
|
Post by Abyss on Jan 5, 2022 4:46:32 GMT
It was rather amusing, seeing the small flash of surprise that crossed the features of the other two wolves present as she introduced herself. Though she didn’t blame them. Just as the brute had thought this, as did Artemis: she was a stark contrast to her predecessor. He was lazy, arrogant, prideful, a waste of time and breath. And while Artemis too was prideful, as were most Sanzin, she certainly was not lazy, nor was she a waste.
Though a small smirk had just begun to cross her maw, the expression of the other female in company prevented this. Only for a moment. The other didn’t trust her. Once again, the thought couldn’t be blamed. Her undeniable and practiced charm, it was deceiving, considering her origins and the reputation of her kind. The other, Rieka was it? She was right to not trust that smile. But, of course, she could change that, in due time. For now, though, all she could do was play their game.
Little time passed before the sound of approaching shuffling found her ears, bright sights turning towards where she had entered from. A dark nose followed by sandy brown fur pushed through the brambles, along with a narrowed pale gaze that surely was judging those who sat before her. Having never been to a real Pack Meeting before, it was unclear as to if this she-wolf had been the Centurion of the Au’Dar for a while. Though, judging by the looks that crossed the faces of the Vertok King and Queen, it was safe to assume that this wolf was not who had been expected. Interesting.
There was silence, just for a moment, but another pushing through the entrance was enough to catch a lot of attention. Her own golden gaze narrowed at this, for there was only one Leader of the Au’Dar, as far as she was aware. She didn’t have time to speak before the untrusting Queen of the Vertok bursted with anger and outrage, something about the sacred law? If she was honest, Artemis had never really bothered take that whole code or whatever it was to memory. The Sanzin weren’t exactly known for their dedication to rules. And if the expression written all over the sandy brown she-wolf’s face was any clue as to her personality, it seemed she couldn’t care less about said “laws” either. An interesting turn of events, one that she was sure would bring forth a rather enticing show.
Though one may have expected her to make a comment, something following the same path as the “you’re breaking the rules” bit, but she instead decided to remain quiet. If the Vertok cared so much for their rules, then she would allow them to take care of this themselves. Maybe she would get to see a battle of the pack powers. She could only hope. 477 | Cheshire kaz
|
|
|
Post by kaz on Jan 7, 2022 6:52:00 GMT
POWER, POWER · THE LAW OF THE LAND She sat with shoulders rolled back and head held high, her eyes blank and all-seeing like some queen of the undead. Her pelt shivered deliciously beneath their gazes. Let them look. Let them behold the new Empress, the usurper, the bringer of the revolution. The hint of a pernicious smile played at her lips. Already her arrival seemed to be making some large ripples; the presumed Vertok queen jumped to her paws and shrieked at her, seething with anger. Akala glared back at her, feeling nothing more than vague condescension, as of someone looking upon the misbehaving children of a stranger. Her eyes flickered toward the king, awaiting his response. Would he too scream and shout like a pup? If so, nothing would get done. The new Empress would not stand to be in the presence of such infancy; it was an annoyance beneath her now. The Vertok king kept collected, though she had seen the confusion in his eyes when she had appeared. He attempted to calm his partner. “Only the pack leaders are allowed to attend an Emergency Meeting,” came his words. He looked to Wamika, and Akala’s eyes narrowed. “Your guard is free to wait outside with the others.” His tone was calm and mediatorial. Your guard. The fur on the back of her neck began to rise with irritation and she willed it to lay flat with some resistance. Her gaze sharpened. “Such childish traditions,” said Akala after a moment. Her voice was smooth as honey despite the anger boiling up inside of her. Best not to let her temper bubble over now. “Haven’t we moved past the need for antiquated practices from a bygone era?” Besides, Akala hadn’t been reigning when such rules were created. Now was the time for change, not stagnation. “She stays.” With a look of distaste, as if she had smelled something rotten, the new Centurion added: “She is as valuable to my pack as that yowling bitch you call a queen is to yours, so she shall be welcomed just the same. Otherwise, I’m afraid we have nothing more to discuss.”
The woman settled back into herself, tail wrapped neatly around her paws, staring down the Vertok leaders, daring them to challenge her. It was time the cowards learned their place in this new world; the previous Centurion had been too craven to do so but Akala was not him. And they would know it. THOSE LIVING FOR DEATH · WILL DIE BY THEIR OWN HAND
|
|
Offline
Apr 29, 2024 17:46:55 GMT
CST
Tag me @cheshire
|
|
Post by Cheshire on Jan 10, 2022 17:40:26 GMT
NPC Vertok King Conri and Queen Rieka I gave the previous Centurion a name to make it less confusing: called him Xanfried TAGS: Abyss kaz Conri's eyes flicked between the three faes in the arena. The Suit had chosen to remain silent, not that he had expected anything from them. Calling the Sanzin helpful might even be considered an insult on them. Rieka was still seething with anger and indignation and the Centurion seemed no better. Things were not going well at all. Mentally, the aged King sighed. Why had all this had to happen during his reign. He was far too old for this. Eyes back on the Centurion, he spoke calmly, refusing to be moved to anger, "The laws were put in place to ensure peace in these lands. They have served us well for many generations." Antiquated as they may be, they were the reason a land trapped in perpetual war had finally found peace, or at least a semblance of it. Those laws were what kept the neutral territory in place and without conflict. They were the reason the three packs, despite their heavily unstable relationship, were able to gather and meet in pace once a year. Conri held a great deal of respect for them. And now they were under attack. Rieka's anger spiked at the insult. To insult her was to insult the pack she led. She couldn't just let this stand. Not only had this interloper broken the sacred laws, but now the fae sought insult her beloved pack as well. "Yowling bitch! You dare-" Just as she was moving into a combat stance, she was cut off by her King. The brute forcibly stood in front of her, blocking her off, and gave her a pointed glance. She had to stop or everything they had worked for would collapse. Things were rapidly deteriorating and Rieka's anger, justifiable though it may be, would only make things worse. At the rate things were going, a fight just might end up breaking out. Needless to say, it would be counterintuitive to what they had come here to do. Conri's gaze was steely as he stared down the Centurion. He had been willing to come to a compromise, he still was, but now that the Au'Dar had insulted his own, he could not let that stand. "You have not introduced yourself. I assume you are Xanfried's daughter? I do not think he would approve of your behavior today." From his interactions with the previous Centurion, they had been a wolf of honor. Far from the kind that would stoop to insults, they would have upheld the sacred laws. The Vertok King had a hard time believing that the umbral fae that sat before him now was the Xanfried's heir. If they were, they were nothing like their honorable father. Conri's presence in front of her gave Rieka a chance to cool off. Yes, this Centurion was ill-natured, but she had to keep it together. She represented her pack and she shouldn't do anything to sully them. Much as she hated to admit it, they needed this meeting to succeed for the sake of the Vertok and all others that lived in here. Taking a deep breath, the tawny Queen regained her composure. Her gaze flicked to the Sanzin Suit Artemis. The Sanzin had chosen not to act thus far, but if they did, it would tip the balance. She had no doubt in her mind that this Artemis would try to put the Conri and her, and thus the Vertok, in a bad position for them. She had to be ready for that. The Vertok Queen would try to keep an eye on that snake while she and Conri dealt with the Centurion.
|
|
|
Post by kaz on Jan 30, 2022 5:19:43 GMT
POWER, POWER · THE LAW OF THE LAND The Vertok King spoke of the laws and whatever else; it was difficult for Akala to listen as she cared little for what he had to say. Her eyes wandered to the Sanzin bitch, measuring her. She had not spoken yet after Akala’s arrival but there was something glittering in those golden eyes that irritated the new Centurion. Conniving, duplicitous creatures, the Sanzin. She couldn’t stand to look on the white wolf long. Her gaze turned back to Conri sharply. “Change is in the air,” said Akala slowly, “and it would behoove the Vertok to acknowledge it. Progress is inevitable. One must accept it or be buried beneath and lost to time.” She had little else to say on the matter. The “sacred laws” meant little to her and she wouldn’t waste another breath on them. Wamika was her most trusted ally and as such deserved a position at the meeting regardless of whatever asinine rules had been put in place before her leadership.At Akala’s next words, anger spiked in the Queen and she momentarily lost her composure, crying out in that shrill voice of hers. Her outburst was brief, cut short by the King’s more steely collectedness, but it still gave Akala no small amount of pleasure to witness. But then it was the King’s turn to speak, and the Empress felt her hackles rise once again under his cool and measured gaze. Hatred was too light of a word for what she felt. The blood on the Vertok’s paws — blood of Au’dar’s own tafa, slaughtered in cold blood — could never be washed away. And meaningless traditions and rituals could not absolve them of their sins or make it any easier for Akala to stomach their presence.In an attempt to dissolve the tension, the King changed the subject. “You have not introduced yourself,” said he as calmly as he could muster. She glared back at him as he spoke. “I assume you are Xanfried’s daughter? I do not think he would approve of your behavior today.” Akala had to force back a laugh, his statement was so utterly absurd. How preposterous it seemed, as if the prior leader’s approval meant anything to her — as if he had any thoughts concerning anything at all anymore. She composed herself quickly without any expression of her amusement outwardly. Now was the time for her grand introduction as the new ruler of Au’dar; now they would see her as she was: the Empress Akala. She’d imagined this moment in her head again and again on the trip here and her heart leapt in her chest as she sat straighter, leveling her gaze over the wolves in the clearing. Behind her, Arzanoth sat grooming his feathers impassively, one great wing outstretched.“Xanfried is dead,” said Akala, her voice unwavering and emotionless. She paused a moment to gauge their reaction before continuing. “The end to his reign was long overdue. The Au’dar are ready to usher in a new era, with me as their leader.” With her cold blue eyes and stolid disposition, and with Arzanoth spreading his wings behind her, she looked more an omen of death than a wolf. “I am Akala, the Centurion of Au’dar.” She felt more powerful than ever before at these words, a great and terrible force shadowing the land like a thunderstorm. Unstoppable, she felt shadows whispering in her breath, and death dancing upon her fangs.THOSE LIVING FOR DEATH · WILL DIE BY THEIR OWN HAND
|
|
Offline
Apr 29, 2024 17:46:55 GMT
CST
Tag me @cheshire
|
|
Post by Cheshire on Feb 21, 2022 3:43:26 GMT
NPC Vertok King Conri and Queen Rieka TAGS: Abyss kaz Conri admittedly wasn't sure what to make of the situation. Xanfried was dead? The brute had seemed perfectly healthy the last time he'd seen him. As far as Conri was aware, the Au'Dar weren't as violent with their succession as the Sanzin. That wasn't the only thing that befuddled the Vertok King. Akala's ... performance was something. He decided not to keep pushing the issue of the unwanted attendant. It was clear the new Centurion was not as agreeable as her predecessor. It seemed the wiser choice just to ignore all the dramatis going on. Rieka was not amused to say the least. The Au'Dar had always been strange, but this new leader seemed the most bizarre of the lot. Were they in cahoots with the Sanzin? She expected such disrespectful behavior from those brutish plains wolves. It coming from the Au'Dar was surprising. Coming into this meeting, she had been expecting to butt heads with the Sanzin at every turn. Surprisingly, they had been far from troublesome. That couldn't mean well. The Vertok King sighed, "Very well, Akala. Setting aside the matter, shall we start this meeting?" He was quite tired of fighting over this by now. They had far more important things to be discussing rather than the Centurion's rudeness. Conri looked over at the, thus far, silent Sanzin Suit. Settling down into a more comfortable position, the brute held both the Centurion and the Suit in his sights. "This meeting was called to address the issue of the drought.""The continued lack of rain is putting undue strain on the land. I am sure we are all feeling the effects to some degree." Now that things were finally heading in the right direction. Conri hoped there would be no more incidents. The Vertok King looked to Rieka to continue. Returning Conri's gaze, Rieka nodded. The she-wolf had opted not to sit as Conri had, but remained standing. She turned to address the other two, "The Vertok propose that all packs come together to find a solution to this drought. With all the packs working together, it will be easier to find a solution."
|
|
Abyss
Offline
May 17, 2024 19:15:01 GMT
EST
Tag me @abyss
|
|
Post by Abyss on Feb 28, 2022 21:59:47 GMT
Words could not describe just how hard the white matriarch had to control herself to hold back a smile as the events before her unfolded. The way that this new presence in the clearing caused such a disturbance, it was quite amusing to say the least. A connoisseur of punishment and violence, Artemis waited, yearning for the outraged auburn Queen to rush forward, to tear into this new fool and her lackey. Watching the more troublesome of her own pack tear into each others’ pelts in a clash of snarls and yowls was already entertaining on its own. But watching wolves from another pack rip each other apart, especially those who called themselves Leaders? The image sent a pleasurable ripple down her spine.
A tinge of disappointment creeped through her as the present brute stepped between the flying sparks, her maw just barely shifting into more of a frown than before. Golden eyes flicked towards this sandy brown she-wolf, gaze narrowing. Internally, a part of her almost felt what she said underneath her pelt. She was not wrong; change was in the air, but not just in terms of the packs themselves. The change of rulers often did mean a shift in the wind, and the same could be said for her own pack. She hadn’t been the Leader for very much time, but this did not mean that she couldn’t bend those below her to her will. And she would. And, just as this other tool had spoken aloud, those who didn’t accept change would be lost to it.
As the conversation continued, her golden eyes remained trained on the Au’Dar dogs, gaze almost uninterested but listening more out of duty than desire. The name that they spoke was not familiar to her, but context clues suggested that this Xanfried was the previous Centurion. She didn’t personally indulge herself in knowledge of the rise and fall of power within the other packs, so the why or how that wolf was not present held no importance to her. In addition, she had never met the previous Centurion, nor had she met the Vertok King or Queen prior to today. So the meeting would have held no difference in importance, regardless of who had been here. Her expression remained almost bored as the she-wolf spoke of how this other wolf was dead and that the Au’dar were “ushering in a new era”, as she put it. She rolled her eyes at the fact that this tramp seemed to be talking herself up as though her now leading that pack of idiots was some life-changing event. Somehow the white she-wolf doubted that much would change, especially from an outside point of view.
An air of surprise, or maybe just slight shock, crossed the Suit’s face as she stared at what played before her. This now named Akala seemed to shift her body into a tighter and larger position, chin lifted and eyes narrowed, with her voice taking on a more authoritative tone. The bird who accompanied her, who up until this point she had barely taken to memory, perched behind her and openly outstretched his wings as though on cue. The way she introduced herself, how she raised her voice, how her little pet seemed to be trained in visual performance, how she almost seemed to think that she was making herself look so mighty……
It was hysterical. So much, in fact, that the large white monarch burst into audible laughter. One leg bent, placed at her stomach as it began to slightly ache from amusement. Her head lowered slightly, eyes closing for just a minute through the rumbling of her body. Even I could have done better than that without the need for some fancy living centerpiece behind me.
The lack of proper lighting, the hardly notable scenery, the presence of some random insignificant onlooker in the background, the use of a far-less-than-impressive ugly fowl as some sort of dramatic framing. All poorly used by a wolf who was not only smaller and a bit scrawnier than herself, but also seemed to have the absolute max amount of confidence from what attention they assumed this little show would bring forth. It was one of the funniest things she had ever seen in her life. Even watching the almighty Draek, a now ex-member of her pack, go bolting out of camp with blood pouring down his face from the ear she had torn off with his tail between his legs, yowling the whole way out of the territory, was nothing compared to this. It was amazing, honestly.
As her laughter began to cool down, her eyes, full of hilarity, turned to this new Centurion, her head shaking a tad.
“I was aware that the Au’Dar were known for being fanciful cretins with their little pets and their elaborate ceremonies, but to know that they are so theatrical and dramatic as well? My my, has this valley has gone to shit.” She took a deep breath before her gaze, still flecked with enjoyment, turned to face the Vertok Leaders, ears far more attentive both mentally and physically to what the King began to say.
“Indeed, ‘to some degree’. Though I do believe that some are more fortunate than others.” The leftover smile from her guffaw remained, almost shifting in a smug direction. The Sanzin had water. They had a whole ocean at their disposal. Granted, the water was salty, and at times it almost made it feel as though it made the thirst worse. But even water full of salt was far greater than no water at all.
Her gaze narrowed, ears flicking at his words. A solution? That was what he wanted?
“And what sort of solution would you propose to solve our problem? It is not as though the packs can bring back the rain by some miracle. We do not have the power of gods, not even the faux prophet in our midst.” She did not turn to look at Akala, but a part of her reveled in the fact that the other she-wolf was hopefully fuming at the shame she brought upon herself.
"Speaking." Thinking.
1024 NOTES (C) ABYSS
|
|
|
Post by kaz on Feb 28, 2022 23:56:18 GMT
POWER, POWER · THE LAW OF THE LAND There was silence for a moment after her introduction, and the Empress regarded her audience apathetically, reveling in their quiet, feeling their stares upon her fur. Look upon me, your new Queen. Look upon the one who will one day rule over you all. Then, a snicker cut through the silence, rising up to an uproarious laughter. Akala’s eyes shot toward the offending noise. It was the Suit, practically bowled over in a fit of laughter. First, confusion flickered through the Centurion. What could possibly be funny in this moment? Then realization crept through Akala and filled her with the same indignant shame she’d suffered through her whole life. All the laughter and whispers, all the times she’d never been taken seriously now coated her pelt like a heavy snow and she fought to keep her composure and keep the ignominy from showing. Her eyes widened as the fury swept through her like a tidal wave, icy blue gaze boring into the woman without really seeing her or anything at all. Unbridled anger burned through her like nothing she’d ever felt, muscles tensed so tightly later she’d be sore for days. you’ll regret saying that i’ll make you eat those words i’ll make you choke on them you disgusting sniveling wormShe was frozen there, trying to control herself, her jaw locked together, her fangs itching to dig into flesh and taste blood and receive justice for the indignity she had faced here today. It took every ounce of willpower to mold her face into something that resembled indifference and even then it would be hard to call her successful. The shame left a mark on her like a slap and burned all the same. Blood pumped so harshly in her ears she did not hear the words spoken, watching the smug lips of the Suit move so casually after the venom she had spewed; her breath came short and fast and only after some time did it slow. Behind her, Arzanoth shifted nervously. Finally her senses began to return to her, the red tide of anger ebbing slightly, allowing her control again. She could not lose her temper, not here. But it sat deep within her belly like a hard stone and she knew it would only be a matter of time before it came out. The others were speaking of some sort of solution to the drought; it felt impossible to care after the turmoil that had just wrecked through her mind. Like discussing decor after a tornado had just ravaged your home. She forced herself to listen, saying nothing, thinking little. She knew she must hear what they had to say if only to glean what she could of these packs and their ways to store away for future use. The Suit was right, despite the treasonous insult she threw Akala’s way. There was nothing wolves could do to change the drought, to miraculously bring water back to the valley. If the Vertok leaders thought otherwise then they were even dumber than Akala had realized. THOSE LIVING FOR DEATH · WILL DIE BY THEIR OWN HAND
|
|
Offline
Apr 29, 2024 17:46:55 GMT
CST
Tag me @cheshire
|
|
Post by Cheshire on Mar 11, 2022 19:24:54 GMT
NPC Vertok King Conri and Queen Rieka TAGS: Abyss kaz Bri The skepticism of the other leaders was not unexpected. Rieka was hard-pressed to believe a solution existed. Conri likely thought the same. But they had to hold out hope that one did. "A search party. One comprised of members from each pack can be created to locate another source of water." The Queen didn't back down as she made her announcement with Conri lending silent support at her side. It seemed farfetched that the idea would work. Especially considering how the meeting had started off. If the pack leaders had such difficulty even talking, would wolves from rivaling packs even manage to work together. Rieka couldn't put it past the Sanzin to try and make off with more than their fair share. And if the Centurion was this disagreeable, would an Au'Dar wolf even be willing to work with the Sanzin and the Vertok. Rising to his feet, Conri spoke, "To aid the endeavor, a new group has offered their assistance." The King was a little worried how well the newcomers would be received. The Au'Dar were already known as a distrustful pack, but at least, they were willing to talk to the Vertok and Sanzin. But this guild as they called themselves were completely new. They could only hope everything worked out. His gaze on the entrance, Conri called out, "You may enter, Timber."
|
|
Bri
Offline
Pacific Standard Time
Tag me @admin
|
|
Post by Bri on Mar 14, 2022 23:28:46 GMT
I was made to rise above it She had been waiting in the darkness, an unknown observer among this all. As she watched these back leaders speak her face remained impassive though some worry tingled at the back of her mind. Her thoughts were similar to that of the Vertok leaders, if this group couldn't communicate peacefully then what hope was there in a group comprised of their pack members? But she had to push back the worry when her name was called. As she stepped into view she became conscious of how she looked. She kept her head up, but the rest of her body remained relaxed, not wanting to convey that she thought herself better than the rest, she wanted to convey that she was their equal, though that wasn't true either. She was just a stranger hoping to remedy this problem-while also arranging a place for her own group to live, hoping the situation would be the right step for negotiations.
She came to a stop once in the clearing, taking a moment to look at each other leaders in a new light and though this was supposed to be a place of peace, she was already gauging her best way for escape.
"Yes," she finally spoke, voice soft though it held a strong edge to it, "one of my Guild members has informed me of rumors that a dam has been built in the mountain by beavers, cutting off a mountain spring that flows into the valley. I believe if we take a group there and break the damn-or find a way around it-we can bring water back, for everyone." It was a lofty idea but the measures were dire. Without water tensions were bound to rise as pack members would start to die of dehydration or starvation and these didn't seem to be hope for much else outside of the valley.
|
|
Abyss
Offline
May 17, 2024 19:15:01 GMT
EST
Tag me @abyss
|
|
Post by Abyss on Mar 31, 2022 1:45:35 GMT
Out of the corner of her eye, the Suitess had caught sight of a twist and a growing tenseness in the Au’Dar Centurion, which brought forth a small smile to her face. The measure of power was lost in the eye of the beholder. Where one would say that power is found in physical strength, another would argue that it is found in speed, or size, or willpower. Or intelligence. But, when one thinks of themselves superior in power to others, they grow cocky. In their eyes, a fanciful display of themselves is all it takes to prove that they are a dominant being. It was astounding, really, how foolish those blind to their own confidence could be in the presence of actual power. As golden eyes flicked back to the Vertok King and Queen, a small smirk remained in the corner of the white giant’s maw. You will learn soon enough who truly holds the power of this valley.
Though Artemis listened to what the opposing Queen had to say, a part of her almost wanted to laugh again. These wolves expected members from each of the packs to travel together? The displays shown between the Leaders within this circle had already given one another a taste of what that situation would be like. The packs did not get along, and all of them knew this. Yet somehow these two believed that banding some of their own together would wield positive results? She did not laugh, nor did her previously amused smile grow, but a hint of doubt flashed through her gaze, more or less a comical doubt.
The Vertok King rose from his paws, making a new announcement. The smile fell from Artemis’ face and her gaze narrowed. A new group? What was this, a party with free invitations? It wasn’t as though Artemis was a strict rule-follower; she couldn’t have cared less about the age-old laws set in place for these meetings. It was just a tad ironic that right after the dramatic Centurion had been scolded for bringing a plus one, now it seemed yet another extra with no right to the meeting was being brought forth. Hypocritical.
Her sharp gaze followed that of the Vertok leaders, finding a multi-colored brown she-wolf push through the brush surrounding them. She was a larger wolf, smaller than Artemis but still decently sized, and she brandished a hefty set of scars along her jaw. Though scars, in her own eyes, were in fact a mark of one's durability, she would save judgement on this newcomer for later. Scars didn’t always connect back to stories of worthiness.
Even though she had said to herself that she wouldn’t immediately judge this new she-wolf, that disappeared rather quickly. A ‘guild’? What the hell was that? If glorifying the word pack was any key to what to expect from this new addition, she had a feeling it wasn’t much to be interested in.
Though she wasn’t entirely interested in what this Timber had to say, she listened anyway, her attention only really catching when she made mention of a dam in the mountains. Her ears flicked, considering the possibility, and though in her mind her first thought was ‘if I sent some of my wolves, there would be no need for anyone else’s presence’, she did not speak aloud. Her eyes parted from this brown wolf, looking in the distance at nothing in particular, thinking.
On one paw, she had seen beaver dams, and oftentimes they were not exactly huge. If this wolfess had come to this meeting with the idea of some tiny dam in the mountains providing water for all of them, she was even more idiotic than intially thought. Then again, coming into a meeting of pack Leaders as a complete stranger in itself was a pretty bold move for an outsider. It would make sense that she would come with information that could actually benefit them. It did cross her mind…if what she said was true and there was a large dam holding back water, it would be very beneficial to investigate it and try to break it. And, if in the end the rumor was false or the dam was too tiny to be noteworthy, those she would send on this patrol could merely kill those who had given the false information.
“And you believe that this rumored dam would be restricting enough water to provide for multiple packs?” Her voice was laced with doubt in this plan, as were her eyes that landed on the new wolf again. But, she knew what the plan would be regardless of her answer. And that was enough for her.
"Speaking." Thinking.
779 NOTES (C) ABYSS
|
|
|
Post by kaz on Apr 6, 2022 8:45:43 GMT
POWER, POWER · THE LAW OF THE LAND
The announcement of a new member was enough to draw the embarrassment out of Akala. She perked up immediately, all attention drawn to the figure emerging. The irony of the Vertok leaders announcing a new member when they had just shamed her for bringing her own was not lost on the Empress, but it wasn’t pertinent. Not only was there some new pack only now showing its face to their valley, but its leader was being allowed into their meeting, without any other alpha’s consent. Akala glanced quickly to the Sanzin leader whose eyes narrowed with suspicion; the Empress could only assume that she had not been informed of this prior, either. So the Vertok had once again conspired behind the backs of the other packs? Akala’s mouth tasted sour.
The new she-wolf stepped in and spoke as if she had been here before, as if she had a right to her place here when none even knew her name. Akala felt the anger bubbling up again and willed it away through pure survivalism alone; if she was to make it as Centurion she must listen and collect all information. This new wolf — Timber, as she was called — spoke of a beaver’s dam blocking the water supply in the mountains. Some wolf in her so called “guild” had spotted this conundrum and reported it to her, supposedly, though this wolf had done nothing about it. Some guild, thought Akala, if its members cannot even break up a small dam.
“And you believe that this rumored dam would be restricting enough water to provide for multiple packs?” came the question from the Sanzin Suit. It was a valid query. Akala had seen beaver’s dams before and, yes they were quite effective, but to stop up the supply for all of the packs in the valley? She doubted as much. They were small creatures and thus their effects couldn’t be quite so large as that. Akala laid a cold and emotionless gaze upon the newcomer.
“Is it that your guild,” began the Empress, the last word slipping off her lips with no lack of disdain, “has such ineffective members that they could not dismantle the thing themselves?” Now upon speaking she felt some strength return to her, some semblance of dignity that had been lost before. “It would seem to me that a dam would be quite an easy thing to remediate. Certainly not a task that requires all packs of the land to send out their own wolves for.” The idea felt nearly laughable. The Au’Dar had always depended on themselves and never the hospitality of other packs to survive; surely they would have never come to a meeting such as this with an issue so simple.
“Not only,” said Akala, her tone lilting upwards suspiciously. She took a step toward Timber. “But how are we to trust the words of an outsider, one who says they are encroaching on our land, our territory, where prey is already stretched so thin? Who are you to build this… this guild, here?” Her blue eyes shifted briefly to Artemis who felt suddenly like her only ally here. They did not and should not trust each other — so why should they trust this she-wolf who barged into their meeting spouting words of some guild and dam in the mountains?[/span][/font] [/div][/div][/div] THOSE LIVING FOR DEATH · WILL DIE BY THEIR OWN HAND
|
|