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 Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2016 3:53 pm
 "How many?" Ram demanded as he strode away from the dens and towards the border. What had been a pleasant day had quickly turned into a less than desirable one. While their guard was small it was decent at its job and they had immediately alerted him to those who were most certainly not welcome on Bahari land.
Vikings, they had said.
Worse, they had later clarified that there were more than just a few. They hadn't given precise numbers, but it was certainly larger than the average band. One might have been so bold as to assume it was multiple bands. However, while the guards had expected the worst and has assumed they would be attacked, no attack had come... On the contrary, the Vikings had shown a measure of self control that they were not known for.
Shortly after this stand off began, what appeared to have been the senior most of them had stepped forward and requested to speak with the King - in short, him. Unfortunately, this leader hadn't provided any details as to why he required an audience but it was in everyone's best interests that Ram made his way to the border and dealt with it quietly.
...The last thing they needed with Vikings on their land causing havoc.
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Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2016 3:55 pm
 The Captain didn't have to wait long, no sooner had he made his request than he could see a stirring in the distance. It took another ten minutes or so, but eventually the large blue lion came in to view. Surprisingly he had only come with a small escort, mostly accompanied by the contingent of guards who had already been on the borders. Tethys wasn't entirely sure how he should take this display of 'force', whether it was an indication of confidence and strength, or a glaring vulnerability.
Regardless, now wasn't the time to be pondering such things - he needed their co-operation and testing whatever strength they may or may not have would serve him no purpose. In addition, his mother had been extremely firm in her views when it came to the Bahari'mtoto. His brother was here (apparently), and they had gained her favour - to harm them would be to gain his mother's ire and he simply had nothing to gain from that.
...He loved his mother and he was curious about his brother.
Perhaps in time he would be a valuable ally?
He gave a roll of his shoulders and a crack of his neck as the large lion came in to range. When they had finally made eye contact he gave a bow of his head in acknowledgement.
"You have my gratitude for coming so quickly," he spoke first, if only because the lion's expression was filled with suspicion and his jaw looked rather set.
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Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2016 6:01 am
Well, well, well... The boy had manners?
Ram could recognise a younger face when he saw one and this one was most certainly younger than his. He wasn't straight out of school, and he certainly hadn't been lacking in experiences if his scars were anything to go by, but he did have an air about him that indicated he still had many years left. Regardless, the Viking had his attention when he was addressed in such a manner and Ram afforded a not of acknowledgement in return.
If this band of lions had intentions of harming them then they would not have opened with negotiations. Suffice it to say that it just wasn't their style, the Stormborn had always been much more blunt. They didn't do niceties for the most part, generally preferring to take what they wanted whenever they wanted to do so. This was an anomaly and one that had given the Bahari'mtoto king pause for thought.
"I am sure you are aware of how unusual this is," Ram opted to state the obvious and motioned for the lion to continue. "State your reasons for being here, what is that you want that requires you speak to me," he instructed. He didn't speak with arrogance, merely with purpose, and hopefully the Viking would recognise that...
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Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2016 6:10 am
"Straight and to the point," Tethys had been expecting something different from the Bahari'mtoto leader. For a pride so relaxed and 'isolated', he had expected something a little more weak. Perhaps the lack of a personal guard was something to regard as a show of strength, the king was wily enough to care for himself. Or mayhaps, the pride was strong enough in some form that they simply didn't need any visible guards.
...Was this how the pirates and the mermaids had also been?
The only difference between this pride and those was that it still existed. Perhaps it was the one that had survived in the face of whatever had hit its neighbours, alas it was impossible to tell without finding individuals from those particular prides.
Opting to skip the niceties (as they didn't seem to be required), the Captain cleared his throat and closed the gap between himself and the blue lion. While he might wish to discuss the issue, speaking too loudly may not have been advantageous to either of them. On the one hand Tethys couldn't reveal too many of his cards, on the other, depending on the disposition of the Bahari'mtoto, they might spook at the revelations he might choose to give the king.
...No, it was better on this occasion to give the King the information quietly, and then he could determine if his pride needed to hear the details.
Thus, it was with this in mind that he began to speak in a low voice that only the pale blue lion would have the privilege of hearing...
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Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2016 6:27 am
The king's expression was largely unreadable and the vast majority of his guards could do no more than exchange glances. Ram made no comments, no interjections, instead he gave the Viking an attempt to make his case and once he had finished speaking, the pale blue lion remained as he was.
What the Stormborn was asking for was something that most of the more cautious would not be comfortable with. To grant access to their home, to allow the Vikings to explore and interact with the inner pride. Their intentions seemed pure (at this time), but he knew that in some respects this would cause unrest, or when it came to some of the more rebellious Bahari'mtoto, it had the potential to cause a few accidents.
That aside, granting the Stormborn access to the inner pride would allow his pride to gather intelligence. There was something worthy of concern and it warranted action from this particular Captain, though the white lion had yet to go into detail, Ram would ensure that he would do so. All the while, those within the pride would gather the intelligence they needed subtly so that the Bahari might defend itself against whatever might be unsettling this particular warband.
"The Hlare are all that you seek access to at this time?" he clarified, and then released a sigh as the white lion gave a nod. "They will be watched," he indicated.
"While you may say we have no need to worry you will forgive my skepticism..." he raised a brow. "I will permit you access to the Hlare and I am sure they will do what they can to aid you, but in return I expect your Stormborn to conduct themselves correctly, or to stay outside."
He paused.
"They also will not be granted leave to come with you." He added.
He wouldn't have the herbalists caught up in trickery, the further they were from the pride, the more vulnerable they might become and before they knew it, they could end up enslaved. It simply wasn't a risk he was prepared to take on this occasion.
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Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2016 6:36 am
They were reasonable conditions and as such, he accepted them readily. He would allow the warbands a measure of freedom but while they were on Bahari'mtoto soil they would conduct themselves correctly. No harm would come to the Bahari'mtoto during their visit and in return, he sincerely hoped that the Hlare would provide his band with much needed and valuable information... If they didn't know the answers, then perhaps they would be able to point them in the direction of someone who could.
"I will make the necessary arrangements," Tethys agreed with a curt nod. "In order for us to gain the most from our stay I will need to bring a number of our own healers to your land," he gave a half smile. "As with your Hlare they will be under heavy escort to ensure they remain protected," he added. He received a nod from the pride's leader in response.
"Within a few weeks we will return and hopefully this will prove beneficial for us both," he pointed out. He knew the glint in the King's eyes all too well, while it seemed like the warband had asked for a great deal, the Bahari'mtoto would not go without benefiting from this as well. Nevertheless, with the agreements made, the lion returned to his band and motioned for them to follow him.
...They would take their leave for now, and return when they had a select few healers to assist with the research.Total Words (Tethys): 756
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Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2016 6:43 am
"Very good," Ram agreed, and as the band departed he turned to regard those who had protected the border. All in all they had done well and he gave each a smile of gratitude. However, now that the accord had been struck he did have to make some arrangements to ensure that nothing went awry.
First he would have to discuss the visitors with some of the more senior figures in the pride, following that, he would need to draw the guards to one side and discuss who and what they would be protecting during their visitors' stay. If he wasn't careful there would be considerable unrest and given their low headcount in regards to certain roles within the otherwise peaceful pride, he wanted to minimise that as much as possible.
"Take another sweep of the immediate vicinity, make sure they left nothing behind..." He added as he strode back towards the center of the pride. He had some plans to make...Total Words (Ram): 944
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