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 Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2008 4:54 am
One of his spies had been deployed, they had been sent to retrieve a mercenary of some form or another to assist in Kiyoshi's plans. However, the mutant was not one to rely on just one individual unless it was himself. He was well aware that other Soquili and creatures were more than capable of failing on catastrophic levels through their own stupidity. Thus, he was all too aware that in order to ensure success he would require the assistance of more than one individual.
Two, maybe three... He was certain he could locate more. It would take a number of days to acquire all their locations and the negotiations may take even longer. That being said, Kiyoshi was not adverse to exercising his mental agility over another. The mutant was perfectly happy to negotiate with those he deemed worthy of some form of respect. Any creature that was prepared to meet him and to discuss the reasons they had been summoned should view it as an honour. They had been selected because they were good, they had skill and some competancy that he could use... They were treasures in the sands.
Not pretty treasures, but treasures came in many different guises.
Clearing his throat, Kiyoshi ceased in his pacing and once again turned his gaze towards the minions who waited expectantly for his orders. Long ago he had selected his 'court' based on their usefulness. Individuals who were too big would cause too much noise, they were unable to be 'sneaky'. However, more often than not very few suspected mice or serpents who appeared to be 'sleeping' or 'foraging' around the victim's area. Ah yes, Kiyoshi had chosen his court because with them he could hear and see everything that he needed to.
As of late his court had thinned considerably. It wasn't through desertion, he had merely thinned out the ranks and sent many in search of information. Thus, only a handful of his most 'capable' remained, those he had selected based on loyalty and diplomatic skills. It was these creatures that had been given their directives - when they were summoned, they would be required to locate either one of his 'treasures' or one of those he might deem an ally.
Unfortunately, treasures had been terribly scarce in recent months an in the last few days he had chosen to call forth his allies instead. It had been with limited success, there were those in the Kawani who lacked the intelligence to spot a good arrangement. However, those that rejected his proposals would merely be dealt with at a later date - painfully.
"You," his tone was but a growl as he swung round and flicked his gaze towards the serpent that hung lazily from the tree branch nearby. The tongue flicked out in response and he could do nothing more than arch a brow at the indifference he was often shown by the serpent. That wasn't to say the serpent wasn't loyal but Kiyoshi often questioned exactly what went on in one of his best servant's mind.
"Find another who is capable..." he shook his head and allowed a dark smile to lift his equine lips, "Bring it to me." He ordered and with that drifted back into the depths of his mind to mull over his current plans. Strategically speaking, he would soon have all the necessary parts to ensure his success - it was just a question of joining the dots.
Nevertheless, having been dismissed the serpent soon slipped down from the tree and began to make its way through the forests in search of something his master deemed 'worthy'.
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Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2008 7:27 am
He had been following a familiar scent in the air as of late, a scent that seemed to strike a raw nerve within him and seemed to awaken some memory of the past. The mutant gritted his jowls, wings folding against his side as a chilling breeze of the late evening wisped and pulled at his form. Like a blazing flame adorned with smoke his neck and wings would become distorted in places, almost void of visibility or deteriorating with holes and edges that became lost and found from time to time.
Perhaps it was best to say that it was both a curse and a blessing as creatures who sought to take a bit upon his along his back or wings would find a mouth which was void of the taste of blood or flesh and wasn't it strange to think that it was the Gods themselves that wrought such a curse, his own kind! Adorned with once restricting chains which he had broken, legs inflicted wth deep wounds which still bled by simple movement and all traces of glory stripped away from him- those damn fools. They had taken everything from him and yet it seemed they still sought for his own life to be surrendered. The thought of such a thing caused a deep chuckle to rise from his throat.
"Not a chance in hell," he mumbled, chains clinking with a soft shrill in the evening as he flicked his tail.
A wreath of mist snorted from out of his nostrils as it seemed the land was becoming darker, brisk with an air that seemed to cause chills to run down ones spine and seize the beating heart from out of its rhythm- constricting it in fear for a moment that seemed as if a sixth sense for detecting terror would evolve into a feared manifestation. Though for the mutant, such feelings were tantalizing to the senses and often brought about opportunities that were too hard to pass up.
For a wounded soul who was consumed by darkness itself it was a feast that simply could not go to waste though one had to be mindful that there were others who were more cunning, slick and slippery who also seemed to draw into such a tempting scenario it would seem that Duzi would have to keep one step ahead of the game which was never a challenge.
Though if his mind was so sharp and keen why was it he could never find the two objects that meant so much to him?
His orbs of icy, glowing blue narrowed from underneath his mask, brows furrowing as he bared his teeth slightly, his jowls clenching fiercely as he shook his head while he stalled for a moment if only to restlessly, and rather angrily, paw at the ground.
He should have found then by now! Was he to assume it was yet another 'curse' that the Gods seemed to wrought upon him? Oh how the Gods seemed to spend their time making the betrayed lives miserable than rather helping the faithful and loyal in their tribulations and struggles! Most had always thought that the 'higher authority' were divine and angelic though if only they knew that they weren't immune to emotions that were felt within this wasteland perhaps others would turn to find or become their own deity.
Though the past often loomed within the confines of his mind, Duzi shoved it away for now as his thick, plush hooves continued pulling him elsewhere, leaving the mutant to change his mindset from the past to present as he was becoming more in tune with his surroundings. He was conscious of them, listening to whatever sounds seemed to echo or emit from the darkness though keeping a rather low key form much like a drifting shadow against the shadows of the thick, secluded area. There was little that he could do about the past as it had happend so long ago but all of his energy, everything which he expended, was being put forth to the present.
Duzi could only wait for when the day would come where the succulent, sweet taste of revenge would flow within his maw, dealing a severe blow to his 'kind' and the Gods for what they had done. But until then he was simply growing in strength, waiting patiently for the opportune moment to strike.
He could only assume that the Gods would think that he was simply not a threat or a being that was capable of such a thing; a fallen Angeni who would attack and, dare say, kill his own kind?
Oh, how little they knew of him.
Flaring his nostrils as he ruffled his wings against his back, the mutant pressed onward while, currently, he only managed to emit a deep, dark chuckle from out of his chest as a wicked grin slipped across his maw.
Perhaps tonight good fortunes would find him.
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Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 2:04 am
It had been over the course of many years that the snake had become accustomed to the wants and desires of his master. It was by no means easy to accomodate the mutant, a creature with so many precise orders and demands. However, over the course of a few months these orders had been less specific - it had been a change that all his subjects approved of. Not necessarily because it made their job easier, obviously it made it easier...but it meant the no longer had to spend six months locating a creature with Kiyoshi's exact specifications. Instead they were granted a little more freedom to locate something they thought he might find some use in.
Not all were successful.
Actually, very few of his servants were successful in reading the dark stallion. The more youthful and brash of those in servitude leapt to conclusions and misjudged. The lucky would be spared, would learn a valuable lesson and would avoid his direct line of sight for a while - however others would not be quite as lucky. Kiyoshi was not exactly the most merciful of leaders. Admittedly the snake was drawn to him given his 'precise' nature, the decisions he made were quick and his plans were often put into motion the second he found the necessary tools to succeed. There were few in the world with such abilities and thus the snake had chosen to follow him without question. It had been this recognition of Kiyoshi's skills that had in return ensured that the snake would also be granted respect. It wasn't long before the serpent's skills and keen eyes were also recognised by the mutant.
...There was a reason the serpent was one of his closest confidantes. It was ironic that the serpent shared such a position with a mouse but even the serpent could spare one mouse. After all, this rodent had served in the company of the mutant even longer than he. Their eyes were both as accurate as each other - none could read the mutant better than the serpent and the rodent who had travelled by his side. There were only a small number of individuals that were not expendable for the soquili and the pair of confidantes were two of them.
It was an honour.
Nevertheless, as the hours drew on the serpent was aware that the mutant's patience would wear thin. Since the revelation that his wretched son had spawned children, Kiyoshi had been considerably more agitated. It appeared that the mutant had quickly realised that time was of the essence and he had little of it to spend dawdling. Thus, the serpent (despite what the mutant might say) was under considerable pressure to prove his worth and find something of use in the specified time. It was asking a lot of any other creature but the serpent had always set itself goals that many would consider unrealistic or stupid. Ah yes, this particular reptile had already decided he would find a potential ally for his master before sunrise...even if he did have to sleep all day afterwards.
Weaving through the foliage and undergrowth with considerable ease, it wasn't long before the serpent drew to a halt. While his eyes couldn't yet detect the movement of another, the ripples and vibrations from the ground beneath his belly indicated that something big was near by. There was only one type of creature of such size in the Kawani and even then, to be this size indicated it wasn't the most 'normal' of soquili. The serpent wasn't able to discern exactly how big the creature was and thus, made the assumption (for the time being) that the creature was a Kalona.
Perfect.
Once again pushing himself through the undergrowth, the serpent began to move in the direction of the vibrations until he caught sight of the rather odd soquili. At first glance it looked like an Angeni but on closer inspection he wasn't entirely sure. Not one to hesitate, the serpent was quick to slither up the tree to avoid being crushed and shortly afterwards...dropped his head down to appear in directly in the stallion's line of sight.
"Now you are an odd one, are you not?" he hissed, his expression intrigued as he flicked his forked tongue out into the empty space between them.
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