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 Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 9:43 am
Chuma felt things were going quite nicely in Caspia, oh sure the place needed some fixing up but it would shape up. He had found the days rather boring without any wars to fight or troops to command. Today he had decided to leave the calm and cool Caspia to explore Zanzibar. Word had it that the bustling city had received a new shipment of slaves and that businesses were booming. He was contemplating opening the lodge in the future for other to come enjoy the hunt, but for now he enjoyed his time alone. He looked up and about curiously as he came upon a new mud hut establishment. The Ring, it said and he wondered if here they trained cats for the colosseum.
He also hoped he might find a worthy hound to spar with, he was old but he wasn't about to just let himself go after all. He had lived a life of action and his muscled and scarred body was a testament to the fact that he had been a general to see action not sit on his laurels and command from afar.
"Hello?" He called out as he slipped inside glad to be out of the heat. His black fur tended to warm him up faster then paler colored hounds, and somedays it made him grumpier too. Yet the heat was better then the cold for his body, blood boiling was always better then frozen joints and stiff muscles.
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Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 9:34 pm
He peered up from checking his ledger, making sure most of the stones count were in order when another hound came close to his hut door. "Hello," he called out in greeting.
Xenos met the eyes of an older hound, one who'd seen better days more likely. A fighter, probably one who had seen real war combat. He also seemed to be much more, hard-lined than Xenos himself was. Xenos barked a command to his slaves, a code he taught them to know that there was a master in company that they should be sure to not look bad in front of. He didn't want to beat them unless it was necessary and the hound in front of him appeared like he would most likely hurt his slaves if they were not scarce unless he called for them.
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Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2010 10:09 am
Chuma focused both eyes on the male who appeared, his greeting was welcome enough. Despite the wound to his eye Chuma had not fully lost his vision, luckily he still had partial visibility in the wounded eye and his usual sharp vision in the other. He took in the dim hut and then looked back at the other male before stepping in.
"Greetings, I am Gen-Chuma'Bomani" He corrected, he was retired and didn't need to introduce himself as a general anymore. Still his service would always be a part of him the way he observed others, the way he held himself all signs of what life he had led.
"This place is new isn't it? Is the ring for the felines only or do you hold actual spars as well?" He asked and again looked about trying to get a better feel for the place. It wasn't a part of some seedy underground cat fighting ring, this was obviously a respectable establishment the type of place he wouldn't mind coming to frequently.
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Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2010 10:53 pm
Xenos watched the other hound as much as he could, still trying to gauge just how this Chuma would act in his home. He had barely started to construct the business, finishing touches in the makings. He needed some newer supplies later but they were just minute details. Xenos nodded his head once more in greeting.
"My name is Xenos, sir." Xenos wasn't sure how he should address the hound. He was obviously someone who had experience and his own idea of how things should be.
"I'm finishing with the details actually. I sent in an application for the permit just yesterday," Xenos answered. He gave a small grin and continued, "The pure business side of course is helping fellow masters build up their slaves' strengths. For the colosseum or your household. Maybe even for guarding, or a little entertainment for a hound who needs some exercise, if you understand."
Xenos didn't particularly agree with the last bit he had said but he wanted to continue to read this Chuma. He may be more willing to not be cruel but Xenos wanted to know for sure. If not, his slaves were aware that some pretenses needed to be kept to keep themselves and others safer than what could be their other fates.
"I'm not a war hero, and I don't boast to be the greatest of fighters, but I'm a pretty good spar partner if a fellow hound needs some real exercise," Xenos answered once more. He glanced around, pausing at the openings towards his slaves before looking into Chuma's eyes.
"So, what brings a hound such as yourself to these parts? To my humble little establishment?"
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Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2010 11:01 pm
"I've a slave back in Caspia who I use to help me spar and keep in shape, but obviously I need someone a little tougher to go against. If you'd be willing to be my sparring partner I wouldn't mind coming in and going a few rounds. Maybe even bring my slave in and have him build up a bit. Not too sure I want to throw him into the Colosseum without a bit more training fighting against his own kind, if you know what I mean?" He knew most masters wouldn't care if they threw their slaves totally inexperienced into the fights. They way the hounds saw it the cats would fight for their lives and they had a chance to win a hefty purse. The way Chuma saw it his slaves were valuable, he didn't want to use them as betting fodder, he wanted to give them a chance to actually win.
A winning cat could really start to gain value, and having winners at the lodge would add prestige to his estate and himself. Though in truth he was more interested in having Xenos as a sparring partner then any feline activities. "I'm a bit on in years...you can see...but I'm not just going to let myself go." He snorted and then chuckled.
"I'm sure we could both benefit from having a go time to time, keeps you sharp." He liked staying on his toes, and despite the partial vision loss, and the ache in his hind leg he still had a lot of fight in him. His powerful muscles were not yet ready to wither away with retirement.
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Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2010 11:07 pm
Xenos nodded his head and replied, "I'm sure we could talk a little business when I get my permit to charge others. You're welcome to come any time the ring's free if you need a little sparring yourself. Any slave you bring here is bound to learn some from my slaves. I personally made sure that though my slaves are quite the fighters, they can pull their paws just enough that there's damage but lots of learning as well. No use for a slave to just be constantly beaten to a pulp if you're trying to train them up a bit right?"
Xenos though was sure that Chuma wasn't as interested in his business as he was in Xenos as a sparring partner. He'd only been in street fights, never in those far more strategic. But he was willing to spar with this hound. He was hopefully to be saved from a beating, at least he really hoped so.
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Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2010 11:55 pm
"Good to hear, no point paying to have my slaves beaten to a pulp, more to learning then that. Once you have your permit I'll see about bringing one of my slaves down to learn. He's got plenty of raw potential but I wouldn't mind seeing him shaped up a bit." He didn't mind one bit, after all investing in his slaves was just like investing in his home, it was well worth it. Every time his slaves had success or learned new skills it was a reflection of his good abilities to master them. Likewise when his slaves failed or did something foolish it was an embarrassing reflection on him.
He didn't like to take on more then what he felt himself capable of, which was true not only in battle but in everything he did in life. He had a passion for life, the type of passion that came from being eerily too close to death too many times. As much as he loved the raw sensation of a good battle he also relished the gentle healing touches that had kept him patched up after.
"I'm thinking of opening up my private lodge for some hunting parties in the future. Are permits difficult to acquire, or does it depend on the establishment?" He asked curiously deciding that Xenos seemed friendly enough to chat a bit.
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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 12:19 am
Xenos grinned. The two of them were pretty well similar minded, quite a refreshing thought considering some of the other hounds he had once had the... so-called pleasure of meeting.
"The same with my two slaves. They've got lots of raw potential when I first got them but then they learned quite a bit. They earned their badges."
It was hard not to boast just a bit. His slaves had worked hard under him. Sure there were some problems but they had come to understandings and things seemed to go well. Sometimes he had to lay his paw but they were good and efficient slaves. They worked well so he had few complaints.
"A lodge hrm?" Xenos knew from his looks that Chuma was a well-to-do hound, unlike himself. He who had thrown a lot of it away. Hunting and private parties weren't quite what he could see for himself, at least not while living as he did now.
"It was not too gruelling a process. Before you submit your papers, they want to make sure all your books are in order. Notes and stuff on the business," Xenos answered. "They want to know how much you charge and for what."
He settled for a better position and noted, "I think they just want to make sure no one goes to the governor's office to complain of any wrong handling of money."
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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 9:54 am
"Glad to hear it, let me know once you have things up and running and I'll be sure to come back with one of my slaves." Chuma didn't mind one bit spending his stones on a worthy establishment and Xenos certainly seemed a worthy hound. Hopefully the business would run nice and smoothly for the male, he would like to see it flourish.
"Well I've everything in proper order, I don't want a gaggle of strangers on my land though. I just thought I might need a permit if I hold hunting tournaments, everyone loves a little competition after all." He chuckled knowing that some certainly liked to bet more then others.
"I suppose I should go down there and apply though, make sure they know everything is legitimate." He gave a wry smile and shook his head. "I wouldn't want to upset the governor either so you can't blame them for being too careful."
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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 2:16 pm
"I'll probably hear back from the office soon. I've heard that I've been getting a lot of new neighbors and there seems to be a few other masters who are making their homes businesses. So I'm sure that the office might be getting a bit overwhelmed," Xenos gave a little chuckle. He didn't know if these were the unsavory sort. Xenos was unsure of how he'd treat his neighbors knowing Zanzibar... but where else would he have made his home?
Xenos wasn't sure if he'd leave Zanzibar and his establishment to go hunting. He didn't think he had the luxury, not until he got more money and interest. As of now, things were of the slow season but Xenos figured that right now was a good time to advertise the benefits of his business. He was relatively cheap and the benefits were what he believed to be good ones.
"Well I'm sure other guests want to know you have a legitimate business. Some don't like it when they're getting served by someone who isn't certified by an official. No use in tournaments or competitions if they don't have some sense of official propriety after all."
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