Griever: The Ravenlords, part 9
Log Info
- Title: Griever: The Ravenlords, part 9
- Emitter: Whirlpool
- Characters: Cryosanthia, Un'eth, Tenoc, Braelnoir, Merek, Halani, Thyrson
- Place: Ravenlord's Fortress: Dining Hall
- Time: Sunday, December 05, 2021, 8:30 PM
- Summary: The diplomats delicately devour their dinner, striving to understand the Ravenlords and determine if they require assistance with Grauthis. It is a difficult task, as the Egalrin are confident they will succeed and obsessed with Charn to the point of ignoring the rest of the world. Merkahab, Artifice, the death of Animus, guns, all these things have passed them by. Finally, frustrate, they start guesstimating Charn's strength based on it's population and likely tactics and ask if the birds can handle them. One great warrior single-wingedly defeated a giant, two will now demonstrate fighitng techniques for their guests. These are entertaining, very entertaining.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Appearing, in Order =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Cryosanthia 6'9" 291 Lb Sith-Makar Female A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman. Un'eth 6'2" 275 Lb Sith-Makar Female An ebon-scaled female Sith-makar. Tenoc 7'0" 280 Lb Sith-Makar Male Tall, green-scaled Sith'Makar hunter. Braelnoir 5'11" 146 Lb Human Female A tall, pale Acanian woman, branded in silver. Merek 5'10" 215 Lb Human Male A black-haired, dusky male with golden eyes. Halani 5'4" 120 Lb Human/Xian Female Shortish, dusky skinned woman with almond shaped eyes. Thyrson 7'6" 436 Lb Giantborn Male Northern giantborn. Chiseled features, blonde stereotype. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= As the GM =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Whirlpool 5'0" Otyugh I am stinky! -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
Previously
The dinner continues. Merek demonstrates his connect with Animus, Thyrson discusses his, and Halani tells the tale of Halanimus. All of which draw very little reaction from the Ravenlords. They are quite smug, condescending, in regards to a cataclysm that shook the whole world, yet not them. Apparently. Cryo remarks on that, more to call attention to it amongst her companions. She also asks the Ravenlords how they expect to rule, and how they will treat their subjects. Having to worship their gods seems to be one of the terms. Halani and Braelnoir get the sense that the birds expect a blood tax, or a war. They are not nice people.
The whitescale is starting to wonder if the warning was too much, perhaps Grauthis is the lesser of the two evils here. It's clear one of them needs to be picked as a lesser.
Time to get her allies on the same page. "You are fortunate, that the death of Animus had little impact. The events were global, widespread. Even in our jungle home the ripples were felt."
Cryo makes eye contact with her scale-sister, Halani, the boys. An intense look of emphasis. "All kinds of catastrophes happened; our weakness easily scoffed at. You must have been isolated in a superior way, so shielded, remote the death did not impact your mighty empire. You must have achieved a faith and a magic that does not rely on the Sea of Mana."
Her voice drops, she places a finger on the table, presses, "Or a worse possibility. The wave comes at you, even now, but has not arrived. The ways of Gods and time are weird, as you have described. Animus' death has not 'reached' you, or your god of Magic was not Animus, but one of the others."
Thyrson watches the ravens, looking progressively more annoyed as he goes.
Brae loves a good row, after all, and her faith in the Bloodletter has left her with few existential fetters in regard to motivation. Those came later, after her time outside the Stride.
After her family congealed in the Steelbelt.
After she saw greater horrors than even that inured the young woman to such pedestrian things as maimings and death.
Wolfen amber pools swivel toward Cryosanthia as her sister speaks anew, narrowing slightly as she tries to read where she's going with.... oh, hey... that's a novel angle she hadn't considered.
They might not have, either, despite chirping about the expansiveness of Deicide, a thing that she's only ever heard of happening once.
She asides in low hisses and growls, "They compare us to other portents, sister, but I ken only scant fragments, without context." in her somewhat archaic take on <Draconic>
Halani's expression shifts.. one might call it souring, perhaps, and she glances sidelong at the others once more. Sideways eye contact seems to be a thing with the delegates for the moment. She leans close to Cryosanthia, pitching her voice low. Too low for the birds, she hopes.. but enough for at least Cryosanthia, and perhaps the others, to pick up. "They are thinking war might be good, yeah? Tribute for their lords. Prisoners." She pauses a little bit. Not swallowing. Definitely not swallowing. Just.. "A blood tax."
Now
"....very little of that makes sense. You are strange travellers and tributaries, but we accept that your ways are going to be strange to us. Still, deadgod or no deadgod, you have sought to warn us of treachery which speaks well of your intentions. We care little for the dealings of outsiders beyond our enemies. That engages the whole of us."
The answer is simple and explanatory, this time, at least. That they believe they can end the threat seems deep within them.
Cryosanthia is feeling the same way. That very little is making sense, not that the Ravenlords will be able to face the threat of Grauthis alone. What does one give someone who has everything, or in this case, a culture that thinks they have everything and that it is singularly superior.
She bobs her head, bobs it again, grasps for straws. An oddly appropriate metaphor in the instance. "This one came to warn, to see what you might need. The warning is delivered. This one would not question your capabilities or tactics. You seem confident no assistance is needed."
"Outsiders have developed a few things that might be of interest..."
Cryo gestures at Braelnoir, "My scale-sister is knowledgeable in the ways of mercenaries, it is known your usurper uses some. She can explain the latest military approaches. She also can determine the secrets of weapons.
Another gesture towards Halani, "My friend knows the fighting techniques of Islanders." Merek and Thyrson are indicated, "both my colleagues are more magically adept than this one, in the ways of the divine and the arcane."
The whitescale shrugs a little, "Bows, crossbows, slingstaffs, siege weapons, this one would expect you are familiar. Are 'Thunderbelchers' and 'Dragonspitters' known to you? It is a recent development in an allied culture."
She spreads both hands, "otherwise this one fears we may not have anything useful to offer."
Thyrson's arms fold across his chest. "What I can't figure out is why you think you're going to win without anyone else. Or is winning bare survival?"
Merek looks along to Cryosanthia and nods a little. He showed all that he needed to people. For the moment, it looks like he will try to relax while watching the place and considering what to mention with the people.
Halani is less sure about these people.. her imagination no doubt running wild about whatever this 'blood tax' might be. At least it seems like the birdmen don't seem currently inclined to make blood taxes out of the delegates. She does raise two fingers in acknowledgement to Cryo's claim of her fighting techniques, then folds one fist into her other hand to bow over it, briefly. When Thryson poses his question.. well, she nods a bit to herself there as well. He has a point.
Braelnoir glances about the room as Halani notes that it may be that someone's decided to end the wait 'till the other side and go out ugly, certain muscles bunching under her robes as she gets ready to burst into sudden, shocking violence.
But, no.
Their hosts, while their manners did little favors with the Stormgardian Korite, didn't do anything that warranted noisy, juicy reprial, and, to whit, their demeanor and bearing had come about at this point.
It loosens taut thews, and Noir gives a nod to Cryo's appraisals, "LIke I'said, I've got practical experience."
She decides to test the waters a little bit, and ventures, "Have any thoughts on Merkabah, or Altima?" of their guests.
Let's see how isolated they've been.
"Who?"
"What?"
That's the assorted answers to 'Merkabah' and 'Altima'. Decades events in Alexandria seem largely of little concern to them.
Merkabah was a big deal in Alexandria. On the other side of the continent with people who don't pay attention to anything outside their interests, it's not. Even as a Big Deal in Alexandria, it was twenty years ago. People have moved on and an entire generation of people grew up with 'oh yeah those dangerous ruins we don't go near' as a thing.
Altima was thirty, fourty years ago now. She's only important because Cryo found the Phalanx Falcis and hasn't been able to go back.
<OOC> Whirlpool says, "Knowledge/History and diplomacy if you're trying to probe their own knowledge of history." GAME: Cryosanthia rolls diplomacy: (13)+25: 38 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls knowledge/history: (10)+4: 14 GAME: Thyrson rolls diplomacy: (14)+25: 39 GAME: Braelnoir rolls int+2: (17)+1+2: 20 (Human Improv)
Only of interest to Alexandrians and Adventurers, perhaps. Cryo rubs at her horns, wishing she'd brought a dragonspitter if only to have something to demonstrate. She feels like she's trying to impress the Silver Empress with her science project, and it's something to do with mud and sticks.
"This one understands, it is irrelevant."
She feels the weight of her eggs and recalls a revelation. She is part of a chain, stretching back. Her thoughts go there, 'Ancestors, if you've got some insights into these people, fought with them, fought against them, this one needs to know'. There are no answers.
"As the significant events of our experience have not reached you, yours have not reached beyond your borders." The white scale says formally, "What events, names of leaders, conquests, do you wish spread so that others might recognize your superiority."
"Tell me about yourselves."
It seems like their own familiarity with history is 'Charn charn charn'. Mostly in the sense that they pay attention to it, and want to conquer it very, very badly. Their OWN history exists, of course, but the seem utterly obsessed with retaking what is theirs, and everything else be damned if it's not of immediate use to them. They're also generally very isolated. They don't get a lot of news and visitors.
If that much wasn't obvious.
More conversation will follow in their stilted trade. "Entertainment will be soon. We always entertain our guests."
They do listen. They do talk. Their history knowledge outside of their own interests seems limited, really, but then, how much is the random person from one side of the world going to know about events on the other? It's not as if these members of Raven Lord society are the *highest* ranking. Still, they do seem curious about the matter with Charn, so far. Of their history, so far, you hear of a warrior single handedly defeating a giant! That's great. A giant.
There are giants in this area. Wonderful.
Dinner begins to drawn down. They're almost out of eyeballs!
Thyrson just stares at the ravens, looking like he's getting a bit of a headache the longer he talks to them. He looks around, drums thick fingers on the tabletop. "I think we might be wasting our time." He waves a hand. "Might as well enjoy the festivities, though."
Technically, Brae's killed, or helped kill, several giants.
Trolls count, don't they?
The talk of the Ravens' history is interesting, despite it's lack of scope. It makes it more personal, somehow, in a way that espousing massive paradigm shifts and economic morass of struggling power blocs can't be.
The Korite has a thoughtful smile as she absently munches on the jellied entrees. She glances at Thyrson at his observation, but, not fully equipped to repudiate it, seems content to glance to her sworn siblings to see what their reaction is, first.
Cryo listens, and eats her eyeballs like a good little lizard. She nods at the appropriate moment, files facts away, attempts to remember things, and then gives up and hopes something will fall into place while she's bobbing her head. The Jotun's observation is not lost on her, festivities are fun.
After the historical lesson, she adds some thoughts, "This one was in Charn eigh... a year ago, and six years ago, as a prisoner. So this one's information is out of date. Their population is six and a half million. Mostly shadow elves and humans, some oruchs and khazadi." Her eyes meet Braelnoir, "how many in a population could be considered fighting men and women? One in ten? One in twenty. This one is not sure they count slaves towards their population, though I know they use many of my people as shock troops, tortured and starved to frenzy."
The whitescale looks back to the hosts, "They use significant black tech, which is why we keep speaking of the City of the Kulthians. Their primary gods are the Cannibal and the Tyrant Dragon. So, their troop numbers might be higher, if they employ the undead."
"Elves are naturally magical, humans naturally ingenious and adaptable. They have been consolidating and hiring mercenaries, as this one mentionned. This one is unaware of unusual abilities, beyond their leader's ability to see through ruses." She gestures mildly, "That is this one's rough estimate, you likely would have better insight, to what is necessary to conquer an army of four hundred thousand, and subjugate a populace of over six million."
"Thyrson, Braelnoir, if you have thoughts on my numbers or what they might need, or tactical considerations I have overlooked, please correct me." Cryosanthia dips her head towards the elder, "Apologies, if this one is simply parroting known facts back to you."
"If pressed, they'n always conscript anyone't ain't high standin' ta fight. Farmers, tradesmen, laborers, likely armed with leather jack'r gambeson at best, with spears, maybe a wood shield." Brae notes, "They likely only get some couple days trainin' at best an marched out ta'front. Expect a lotta hedgehog formation with low morale, sacrificial pieces on the board."
A sigh, and she looks to her sister, "Musterin', steering an' supporting that kinda mess would take several veteran units ta do right. Fightin' inside Charn would shorten supply lines, which'd help them, not us."
She leans forward, resting her elbows on the table, "Charn's also been mixin' it up with the Mul'niessa of Lathail, they seceeded an' claimed soe area around that city'n the Forest o'whispers. Veychanti bands'v been hittin' them fer a while, now too. May explain the merc situation."
Her fingers steeple before her eyes and she gives a little shrug, "If any'yer scouts'v had eyes on any heraldry or banners, even better if they got a hand fer drawin, too... might be I could identify some o'the companies on the board, mebbe give ya a rundown on some o'their means."
Thyrson keeps it terse. "Given the Charnese capacity to mobilize arcane and divine magic, I think the biggest risk to our hosts is that prospect of minor, uncoordinated successes that would give the empire a reason to pay attention to them.."
The doors swing open before the elder has a chance to respond to the pressure and two figures walk into the dining room. They take a moment to bow towards the gathered diners, then towards each other.
A musician, having followed them in, begins to beast a pair of drums rhythmically.
...and the entertainment, it would appear, consists of two hand to hand combatants pummeling each other in an elaborate, feathered dance for your viewing pleasure. They are fast. They are graceful. And they are *dangerous*. That much is clear.
A fight!
This is entertainment!
The whitescale leans forward, watching eagerly, her hands making light twitches as she imagines putting her buckler or icicle dagger to use. The tightness of her robe and heaviness of her belly reminds her she can't fight. Well... she could. It wouldn't be advised and would be on the excessive side.
There's a glance, to Halani, towards Braelnoir, a raising of an eye-ridge. An obvious question, are you enjoying this too? Do you want to get up there? How good are they.
Cryo claps at the appropriate moments, making cheerful whistling noises before even checking to see if the other Egalrin do so. She examines them for livery, perhaps one is a traditional loser. The choreography also looks... real, not rehearsed.
She's impressed.
Braelnoir settles in for the show, her wolflike gaze taking in the movements of the two. She never got the more artful brawly sort of training the Ravens are showing off for their benefit. It's an oversight she should probably work on, though she's been... sidetracked with mastering the new aspects of her earlier transmogrification, among other things...
Still, she recognizes target zones, the sweet spots she tries to land hammer or blade... the muffled, hollow thump of a boneshaking impact... recovery speed compared to similar wounds she's seen, delivered, or endured.
"Kor's knuckles, they know their shit." the silvermaned human remarks under her breath, a certain admiration in her eye.
Halani is definitely not the speaker that Cryosanthia, or even Braelnoir are. Well, sure, she often has lots to say.. too much, sometimes.. but when the words are important, she is at least wise enough to know she doesn't posses the verbal dexterity required to bring someone around to her point of view. Skills she never developed. And why would she? Her fists tend to do so much better at that than her words ever could. So it is when the entertainment comes out, her attention is naturally drawn to the ritualized combat... and fast as it is, she seems to follow it. Or at least be absorbed by it. Though... "I could take 'em," she says. Mostly to herself, definitely not meant for their hosts to hear.. but maybe in response to the silent question popping around. "Maybe not both. They're fast, yeah? But.. "
"Oh, could you?"
The elder smiles.
"It appears we have a volunteer..."
Oh no.
OOC
<OOC> Halani says, "Not sure how 'here' I can be. On call for work."
<OOC> Cryosanthia nods, "youre more here than most
<OOC> Braelnoir shares cookies, tea and fishies.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "okay, so, my initial idea for this was, 'Go talk to the Ravenlords, warn them about Grauthis, see what sort of help they need against Charn', and it's developed aspects of 'figure out where these guys came from since they seem to have come out of nowhere', and also, they don't seem so great to be helping like, they're the Italy or Japan to Germany, or maybe China to Russia, or Burma/Myanmar or I really don't know which country/situation historically to compare them to."
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "do either of you have other ideas of what we should be trying to do?"
<OOC> Braelnoir says, "review their tactics, maybe if their tactics are as out of date as if they've been out of the game for a thousand years, brae could offer to teach them how to more properly do war against charnish tactics"
<OOC> Braelnoir says, "lots of tactics"
<OOC> Cryosanthia nods, "That's a good idea."
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Halani could show them some fighting tricks, maybe a stance. I guess Cryo / Merek/ Thyrson could see if their magic .. works... or makes sense, since they don't seem to have an Animus?"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "okay, other things, thoughts?"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "I've got a re-cap ready"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "half tempted to hit up Grauthis after this, "Dude, what's your deal?""
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "and I don't think we've managed to meet the Ravenlords yet either"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "also I'm feeling really crappy. Like we had a family birthday yesterday and it feels like I got something."
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "like not 'woke up with headache and stuffed sinuses' but definitely 'wow saliva tastes bad today'"
<OOC> Braelnoir says, "yeah, the roomie i was out with on a shopping extravaganza was feeling like she was coming down with something too"
<OOC> Braelnoir says, "i'm sure i'll get to enjoy that later during crunch time"
<OOC> Halani says, "I feel like you have had things pretty decently covered. I'm not sure Halani putting on a combat display would help that much. I honestly don't know what we could do that they'd be interested in. THat's the problem with isolationists who have a sense of superiority. They don't WANT anything from the outside."
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "So do you think we need to say 'our work here is done' and go?"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "I agree with your points though"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, ""Hi, you've got some trouble coming up, we're here to see what you need." - "We NEED the world to KNEEEL and COWER before our GLORIOUS MIGHT.""
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Oh.... kay! We'll pass that along, Cheeribye!"
<OOC> Halani says, "I mean, I want to believe we can at least get some assistance out of them... but they're kind of assholes."
<OOC> Cryosanthia nods
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "we could ask if they've considered summoning demons or devils. Like a not so much 'you should do this' but more 'have you already started doing this?'"
<OOC> Halani says, "We kind of got that little bit of an in with them at the end of last time, with the Blood Tax thing"
<OOC> Halani says, "So they might be willing to mobilize for the chance to get prisoners."
<OOC> Cryosanthia nods, "I have a lot of poses in the re-cap."
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "I totally missed where the Blood Tax came in through what they said, but it was something you picked up on."
<OOC> Halani says, "But I am not sure we should be encouraging that."
<OOC> Braelnoir says, "There's another thing Brae could do, but it might steer things in a bad directions"
<OOC> Cryosanthia ndos
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "well I'm feeling directionless so steer until the rudder falls off"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "like are they wanting to enslave all non Egalrin?"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "is it worth figuring out why their god of magic didn't die/isn't Animus"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "are they like a thing from a parallel dimension? They know of the Millenium kingdom, so it's... not like their culture popped in from Faerun or Starjammer."
<OOC> Braelnoir says, "Brae uses her wartouched gift on one of the older guard's weapons. Get a feel of it's history. LIke, is this guy a cake eating REMF, of has he gotten this blade proper wet?"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "that's a good idea, yeah"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "hmm... I wonder if my 'Ancestor Touched' could get me an ancestor that knows of these guys or something."
<OOC> Braelnoir nodnods
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Fought them, fought for them. that's a Whirl question"
<OOC> Braelnoir says, "if she gets a flash of battle with blades like Eskellios on the other side, she might peg them for 'uhhh, yeah, these guys are about a thousand years out of date.""
<OOC> Cryosanthia nods, "is Eskellios an ancestral blade? Something with RPP behind it like Reunion?"
<OOC> Cryosanthia hugs, "hi Merek.
<OOC> Merek says, "merek is still showing them uh"
<OOC> Merek says, "the things"
<OOC> Merek says, "proof of"
<OOC> Merek says, "orb pondering"
<OOC> Merek hugs
<OOC> Cryosanthia nods, "There's a log, we haven't started yet but we're discussing what we could hope to accomplish and things we might show/do for them. So look it over and see if you get some ideas for showing off or things to ask about
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "You checking them on their magic talents or gods or priests is certainly something you could do"
<OOC> Merek says, "i marry one of their princesses to forge an alliance"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "like 'hey, here's a 9th level spell, can you do 9th level spells?' I don't know what we are dealing with"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Sure thing"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Saves Brae doing it!"
<OOC> Cryosanthia throws rice on Merek, "Here comes the bride!"
<OOC> Merek says, "what a thing for whirl to reconnect to"
<OOC> Cryosanthia waves, "hi Wirl
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "we married off Merek"
<OOC> Whirlpool says, "Haha"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "there's a lot of semi-relevant stuff in the log, we were discussing. I've got a set ready when you are. Things were ok for you today?"
<OOC> Whirlpool says, "So fat"
<OOC> Whirlpool says, "far"
<OOC> Cryosanthia prays to corporate, please more diet cranberry ginger ale for Christmas
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Tis the season for fat, true"
<OOC> Merek pours eggnog on cryo
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "this was not how I originally planned to be dressed"
<OOC> Braelnoir hugs
<OOC> Braelnoir says, "eskellios is the one she restored. it isn't an rpp spend, though i suppose maybe I could?"
<OOC> Cryosanthia nods, "I guess if Whirl wants to work it in and wants it? The blade, Eskellios.
<OOC> Braelnoir hug
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "I'm now also tempted to offer Merek as the most eligible bachelor in Alexandria"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "A national treasure"
<OOC> Braelnoir says, "A step up from trying to hook me up with Big E"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Well... that would only work if he thought your great grandmother was hot"
<OOC> Cryosanthia remembers being less-evil. Hmm.
<OOC> Braelnoir says, "Great Grammy's shimmy brought all the boys to the yard"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "there is nothing slinkier than a sexy lady snake"
<OOC> Braelnoir says, "a mirror finish?"
<OOC> Whirlpool says, "I'm waking up :)"
<OOC> Whirlpool says, "It has been a VERY long week"
<OOC> Cryosanthia hugs, "I feel you there."
<OOC> Braelnoir hugs, "Same. Work's been peak for the holidays."
<OOC> Whirlpool says, "And that's where we'll stop ;)"
<OOC> Halani says, "Hey now."
<OOC> Whirlpool says, "You walked into it ;)"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "She's our best puncher"
<OOC> Whirlpool says, "Next week, Halani versus the two!"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Woot!"
<OOC> Whirlpool says, "And that'll be pretty close to the finale :)"
<OOC> Halani :(
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "it's okay, we'll have Brae backing you up with the folding chair from under the tables"
<OOC> Whirlpool snrks.
<OOC> Whirlpool says, "You guys have learned a fair bit and imparted a fair bit, so I do wanna get things drawing towards a conclusion so I can move onto the next stage of the griever plot! :)"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "I mean the main goal was warn them, see if they'll play nice with others, figure out what they might need"
<OOC> Whirlpool says, "Yep! And now you know they're kind of assholes!"
<OOC> Braelnoir says, "but are they useful assholes?"