Editing Outside the Bear's Cave
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==Part 1: Celeren== | ==Part 1: Celeren== | ||
− | Suequmann the Sunrise Destroying Hammer stepped onto the beach. His head lolled to one side, resting almost lovingly on the fist-thick links of the iron chain draped over his shoulder. The seas foamed and howled behind him, still raging at the memory of his presence, unwilling to be reminded of its | + | Suequmann the Sunrise Destroying Hammer stepped onto the beach. His head lolled to one side, resting almost lovingly on the fist-thick links of the iron chain draped over his shoulder. The seas foamed and howled behind him, still raging at the memory of his presence, unwilling to be reminded of its ancient ally. With each step the ancient demon heaved on the chain, which behind him branched into dozens of chains. Suequmann’s neck had bent at that angle ever since it had been shattered by Appointed Blasphemy, swung by Eottra Dyclasm in the Paling Wars at the edge of Dazraban. Behind his grizzled visage, his long white tail twisted in undulous arcs through the dozes of chains that branched from the single arc of links that wrapped over his shoulder. Each step he took tore great gouges in the sand of the seashore, bringing him only a few inches farther inland, but with each step he took, three dozen mastless were drawn a few inches closer to shore. |
At the side of his general, Ledaal Kebok Omeger watched approvingly, confident that his bargain had been well made. The Vermilion Legion had arrived in the Marukan. | At the side of his general, Ledaal Kebok Omeger watched approvingly, confident that his bargain had been well made. The Vermilion Legion had arrived in the Marukan. | ||
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“I know how that tree feels.” | “I know how that tree feels.” | ||
− | High on a seaward walkway of the Celeren Manse, Tepet Ejava was now free to note the plight of a juniper clinging to a rugged promontory north of the city. Blasted by the wind and waves, with barely a fingerhold of purchase for the roots, the | + | High on a seaward walkway of the Celeren Manse, Tepet Ejava was now free to note the plight of a juniper clinging to a rugged promontory north of the city. Blasted by the wind and waves, with barely a fingerhold of purchase for the roots, the ancient tree seemed destined to be destroyed at any moment. |
“Excuse me, general?” She had not noticed the arrival of her overeager lieutenant, so intently her attention had been diverted. | “Excuse me, general?” She had not noticed the arrival of her overeager lieutenant, so intently her attention had been diverted. | ||
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“Two things. Mayhiros Lyra has requested the particulars regarding the duration of your...” | “Two things. Mayhiros Lyra has requested the particulars regarding the duration of your...” | ||
− | The general interrupted. “You tell her that as soon as we have the supplies we’ve requested, we’ll be on our way. She claims to be nothing more than a merchant; I assume she’ll | + | The general interrupted. “You tell her that as soon as we have the supplies we’ve requested, we’ll be on our way. She claims to be nothing more than a merchant; I assume she’ll the benefits of having the Red Piss Legion move on.” |
Amalia blinked her flame golden eyes. “We’ll be leaving soon?” | Amalia blinked her flame golden eyes. “We’ll be leaving soon?” | ||
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“That is all, lieutenant.” As she withdrew, the Roseblack reminded herself once again it was the Vermilion Legion, and that she couldn’t expect as much from ex-convicts and found eggs as the shattered legions in which she had served most of her career. She did not have time to muse further on the subject. | “That is all, lieutenant.” As she withdrew, the Roseblack reminded herself once again it was the Vermilion Legion, and that she couldn’t expect as much from ex-convicts and found eggs as the shattered legions in which she had served most of her career. She did not have time to muse further on the subject. | ||
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+ | [[Image:Shinobi.jpg|Iselsi Sherem|thumb|210px]] | ||
“General Tepet.” The rasping voice fell harshly on her ears. Instinctively she walked to the sculpted pink marble railing, looking away from the hideous jade mask. Iselsi Sherem knelt in a crouch three paces behind her and one pace to her left. | “General Tepet.” The rasping voice fell harshly on her ears. Instinctively she walked to the sculpted pink marble railing, looking away from the hideous jade mask. Iselsi Sherem knelt in a crouch three paces behind her and one pace to her left. | ||
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“Your instructions were that if and when we were forced to make landfall in Marukan Lands, you should have a report prepared on the situation here. That time has come, in spite of our best efforts.” | “Your instructions were that if and when we were forced to make landfall in Marukan Lands, you should have a report prepared on the situation here. That time has come, in spite of our best efforts.” | ||
− | “I understand. I have achieved | + | “I understand. I have achieved mixed results.” |
Tepet Arada let her head fall forward. “I could use good... Sherem, you smell of rot and brine.” | Tepet Arada let her head fall forward. “I could use good... Sherem, you smell of rot and brine.” | ||
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“I fail to see how these results can be mixed, since it sounds like you have no information for me whatsoever.” | “I fail to see how these results can be mixed, since it sounds like you have no information for me whatsoever.” | ||
− | “I have better than second hand information. Two things I offer you. In three days time the exiled owner of this manse will be arriving. I guarantee he will be useful if you should ever need... native support.” | + | “I have better than second hand information to offer you. Two things I offer you. In three days time the exiled owner of this manse will be arriving. I guarantee he will be useful if you should ever need... native support.” |
“His name?” | “His name?” | ||
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“...I could never come within a thousand miles of the Blessed Isle again. They’re just looking for a reason to execute me as is. I see now why Lookshy cared nothing for offering this wretched bargain, or why the anathema were so cavalier about warning us of the Mask’s forces. We’re damned no matter where we turn.” | “...I could never come within a thousand miles of the Blessed Isle again. They’re just looking for a reason to execute me as is. I see now why Lookshy cared nothing for offering this wretched bargain, or why the anathema were so cavalier about warning us of the Mask’s forces. We’re damned no matter where we turn.” | ||
− | Sherem shifted noiselessly. “Long have I watched over your career, | + | Sherem shifted noiselessly. “Long have I watched over your career, in memory of your grandfather, so heed my advice. I have heard tell of the strength of these anathema. An alliance with them or a stronger pact with Lookshy might turn the tide against the Mask... and the realm.” |
− | “Hmm. How could I reconcile myself to such a treaty? The Mask conquers Thorns, and the anathema conquer the Marukan. | + | “Hmm. How could I reconcile myself to such a treaty? The Mask conquers Thorns, and the anathema conquer the Marukan. What is to say that one is a lesser evil than the other?” |
“I am.” Tepet Ejava whirled to see that a third had joined them on the balcony. The young man was dressed in shredded black cloth that floated about him in tatters, feathered by the breeze. His figure was slim, his face cold but with high spots of bright color on his cheeks and a shock of crested black hair on his head. He gave the general a deep bow and whispered, "Good morning, young wood dragon. I understand you wish to know more about the Solar Exalted that shepherd the Marukan?" | “I am.” Tepet Ejava whirled to see that a third had joined them on the balcony. The young man was dressed in shredded black cloth that floated about him in tatters, feathered by the breeze. His figure was slim, his face cold but with high spots of bright color on his cheeks and a shock of crested black hair on his head. He gave the general a deep bow and whispered, "Good morning, young wood dragon. I understand you wish to know more about the Solar Exalted that shepherd the Marukan?" | ||
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[[Heaven's Mandate]] | [[Heaven's Mandate]] |