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Post by strixx-variaa on Jun 2, 2016 16:30:52 GMT -6
Thaumas Anereus imagined he wouldn't be quite finished "processing" the details of Nereida's Spring until many years after reestablishing peace, if it ever came. He'd never been in a war before, and after fifty years in a stable society now rocked by blows seemingly descending out of thin air, the brutality of this particular novelty was not lost on him. Border skirmishes and combat missions he'd endured during his service as a Guardsman now seemed paltry by comparison. No wonder the academy trains such youths. Those conflicts are nothing like this one.And to be perfectly honest, the peace he envisioned didn't necessarily include the feather-folk. A Talorian through and through, Thaumas Anereus liked his nation's solitude, liked its singularity, liked its secrecy. He liked the uniformity his culture so closely espoused, and loathed the prospect of anything too drastically different. Sure, the land-walkers could stay, and Cascade's wave-walkers could never be made to leave their own nation, but Alya's people were the ones making the trouble in the first place. If peace meant an Aquore without pegasi, Thaumas saw no obstacle, moral or otherwise, to that end. He took a deep breath, and exhaled through his mouth in a long, snow-flaked sigh. The Defender stood on the southward rampart of one of the state buildings in the palace complex, where he'd just come from a brief dinner with The Sage, watching the evening sky change over the ocean's horizon. The air was warm as it always was, but Thaumas's gift chilled the space immediately around him, almost without his knowledge. Rycaron had told him, amongst other things, that the new Ambassador from Onea was supposed to have arrived already and yet had not been heard from through any thread of the Sage's networks. A great hulking stallion with a wolf for a cloak, apparently, and very much the picture of a War-Forged warrior. He shouldn't have been easy to miss, and yet he was missed. One could only imagine what may have befallen him on his journey to Inaria, given the current state of affairs. "What awful timing," murmured Thaumas, thinking of how strange it must feel to be thrust into diplomatic relations with a people who are already quite adequately tearing themselves apart. He did not envy the envoy, as it were. It was partly in the hopes of catching sight of this new face that Thaumas Anereus had lingered on the ramparts for so long, actually. Sure, the odds that tonight was the night the fur-cloaked diplomat arrived in his official capacity were slim, but the Defender had done all the work he could possibly do for the day and was in need of some meditative rest. Besides, Rycaron and his Emissaries did their work in the buildings on one side of the walk, while Thaumas and his Guardians did theirs on the other. He'd thought it might be a good place to watch, and be silent for a moment in the quiet at the end of a day. But he'd seen no unfamiliar faces on the thoroughfares and courtyards below, and so with the sun sinking ever lower in the tropical sky, the Defender turned away from his view and made for the wide, gentle staircase leading down to ground level. What awful timing.words: 548 tags: ebbarie notes: i'm so sorry to be posting so late! i went out of town this past weekend for a holiday and forgot to let my starborn friends know. deepest apologies. :( edited for continuity and word choice! |
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Post by ebbarie on Jun 4, 2016 2:40:29 GMT -6
Sometimes time passes by so fast that we are almost afraid, it is the fear of lost moments and wasted breaths that drives us mad. On the other hand there are days where you feel like you were stuck in one short moment, unable to get forward. Today was such a day. The dark stallion was tired for he wasn’t either used to the hot and wet climate in Aquore nor to the vegetation and strange animals. Also the shock about the chase through the Wilds, the dangerous rainforest at Aquores border, where he had met the Rouge Hati, was still haunting him. He would better not mention that to one of the officials. That would only make them question a lot of things and lead to a way more complicate start for a possible diplomatic relation. Also Fijalahr was pretty sure that he must look horrible. The efforts of the day left his mark on the stallion. He had a tired and exhausted look on his face, but in his eyes still smouldered strong determination. At some point the Ambassador noticed that the sound of his hooves on the street was almost the only noise besides the singing of many tropical birds and some crickets here and there. Aquore had always been described to him as a blooming and vivid land with citizens as colorful as the strange paradise birds. He had seen many animals around here, but only a few horses. Sure it was evening now, but something strange was going on here. The stallion couldn’t name it but there was a strain hanging in the air, he could almost physically feel the tension. Also the few horses that he met on the way to the palace, which was quite farer away than he had thought at first, looked at him with an unpleasant suspicious expression in their faces. Sure this was only natural, the horses in Onea would react the same way, but it somehow felt like the citizens were much more warily than necessary. Well...from the experiences he had made so far, from the first moment when his hooves touched the land of Aquore until now, it only could get better, or at least he hoped so. First of all he had to find one of the officials, maybe a Guardian would be the easiest, since they would patrol at several places in the whole city and of course there would be some at the palace. The much he wished to just search a silent place where he could sleep a while, he had to speak with them first. Fijalahr was pretty sure that the authorities wouldn’t be overly fond of a stranger, even if he is an Ambassador, who wanders around the city all of his own. A few sheer endless minutes of walking later, a large staircase came in sight. The palace was build high over the ground, a fact the he hadn’t known before. A long road was behind him. The way over land from Onea to Aquore was long and now where he finally was at the end of his journey, he could feel the fatigue in his legs. Just in the moment where he finally overcome his desire to just sleep right here at the street and sat one hoof at the first stair, he noticed a tall and bulky horse coming down the staircase. Carefully he took a step backwards and looked up to the stranger. The horse was to far away yet to notice any details but Fijalahr just hoped that whomever it was could help him, so he waited down there for the stranger to reach him. In the meanwhile he tried to consider the right form of address to a Talorian... words: 625 tags: strixx-variaa |
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Post by strixx-variaa on Jun 5, 2016 11:13:01 GMT -6
"Ah-h-h-h." Thaumas's voice rolled low and quiet down the staircase like a distant thunderclap, too lazy to boom with its full power. As it were, his sounds of realization were meant for four ears only. "Like a shade from my mind, he appears," said the Defender with a gentle grin on his lips and a searching flicker in his eyes. "And you are he." The Ambassador was just as Rycaron had described him, if a little worse for the wear of his journey. Tall for his type, and well-muscled, with a thickness of hair not commonly seen in the south. What Thaumas hadn't been told of was the inkvine scar on the War-Forged's dark face, shining oddly pink in the evening light. (And how odd, too, that such a permanent mark should be left out of his description when his cloak was left in!) It was striking, and accomplished two things: first, it drew Thaumas's eye to the eyes of the Ambassador, and second, it instilled in Thaumas a deeper respect than he'd had for the other five minutes ago. There was no telling how he'd gotten the scar, of course, and it could've been the product of some innocent mistake with no valor or bravery attached to it, but until he knew the circumference of the circumstances of its creation, Thaumas was rather keen to imagine the scar as a mark of glory on this young stallion. It was perhaps a bad habit of the Defender's, but then again he had several scars of his own and had a fair fondness for others with the same condition. As the Defender drew within a pace or so of the foreigner, he stopped, just on the last wide stair. He did not stop his eyes from roving. Here was a northern curiosity, to be sure. "Welcome, snow-brother. You will needs remind me of the pronunciation of your name, I'm afraid. Have you sent word to the Sage of your arrival?" It was bad manners, perhaps, not to introduce oneself, but this lack of nicety had become a habit so deeply ingrained in Thaumas that he hardly thought anything of its rudeness anymore. And indeed, was there rudeness? Nobody would expect Emperor Hawkeye to make his own introduction, and for almost two decades now Thaumas Anereus had been schooled to think that no member of the Trinity need do the same. Everyone recognized Eve; everyone recognized Rycaron; everyone recognized him. Surely this Ambassador would remember the faces and descriptions he'd been taught before bravely leaving his homeland to do his peaceful business? words: 431 tags: ebbarie notes: so i realized in this post that fiji is such an alien beast by southern standards, all hair and wolf and north all over him. love it! :D |
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Post by ebbarie on Jun 6, 2016 11:06:29 GMT -6
Slowly the stranger made his way down to the dark stallion which steadily kept an eye on him. The smaller the distance between the two horses became, the more Fijalahrs nervousness increased. Now his mission really started. This was his first test as an aspiring Ambassador, for the first impression was nearly almost the most important one. When the deep voice rolled over him his ears turned back instinctively, but he forced himself to put them up again fastly to maintain his thoroughly settled expression, friendly, but also reserved. They probably fear you more than you could ever fear them, for them you are the wild barbary from the north. This is your chance to proof them wrong.
The foreign stallions vigorous barrington vibrated through Fijalahrs whole body and he could immediately hear the authority in his voice. His opposite wasn’t just a simple servant or Guardian, no the roan had to be something more important in the hierarchy of the Talorians. It wasn’t just his voice, but the confident gait, the large steps he made and his whole posture that told Fijalahr much about the stranger. The Forged hadn’t that much knowledge about the colorful people of Aquore, but he had learned about the most important persons under the Talorians throughout his long journey from Onea to the borders of Aquore. Only one of the description suited his opposite. The heavy build, the judging blue eyes and the fact that the air cooled down the moment the stallion reached the last stair made it clear - the stranger was no one minor than the Defender.
“May the stars shine above our meeting, Thaumas Anereus (Fijalahr could only pray that he pronounced that name right), great defender” , the Ambassador responded and lowered his head respectfully before the older horse. Of course he had noticed that after Thaumas had inspect him entirely, his blue eyes wandered higher so that he could scrutinize the scar in his face. The younger stallion returned the glimpse unmoved, even if he had to look up to the Defender. Thaumas was larger than him and stood still on the last stair so he could look down on the foreigner. Fijalahr was pretty sure that he did that on purpose. “My name is Fijalahr, and no I had no time to sent word to the Sage, forgive me, but I reached the borders of Aquore not until this morning.” he explained himself, unsure if he should mention the encounter with the pirates this morning. words: 416
tags: strixx-variaa
notes : Haha yeah. Poor Talorians, they will experience a culture shock in their own lands :') |
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Post by strixx-variaa on Jun 8, 2016 12:07:12 GMT -6
"Yes, so I heard," replied Thaumas Anereus. "Or rather, we did not hear, and so suspected. The Sage and the Emperor will be glad to learn of your safe arrival, Ambassador." The stallion dipped his head in courteous reply, and by his action both acknowledged the Ambassador's own courtesy and wordlessly assured the wolf-cloaked stallion that he was respected and welcomed in Aquore. It wasn't the first time Thaumas Anereus had met a foreigner, but it was the first time in a long time, and the other's frost-laden accent reminded the Defender of his boyhood days. As a youth, you see, Thaumas spent much of his time shadowing his parents' occupations (as all young Talorians do) and though as a teenager he eventually learned to prefer spending time with his father and the Guardians of those days long past, Thaumas-the-foal loved his mother's profession, too. And she was an Emissary. She was often out of the country on some business or another, but when she was home, she worked in that same state building just across the ramparts. Among the fond memories of flying discreetly-made paper airplanes out windows and into the courtyards below were studded equally strong memories of faces and tongues from faraway lands. He had first been permitted to meet the Breimen diplomats as a child, partly because his mother did so much work there and so was well-known and well-liked in that country, and partly because the Breimen had more or less always been a people the Talori herd liked and respected. He remembered a long moustache and being given a spinning pinwheel toy which didn't leave his side for days thereafter. With a half-smile on his lips, Thaumas Anereus tried to imagine Ambassador Fijalahr presenting him with a spinning pinwheel toy. Perhaps another day.(You must forgive the groan-worthy way old men amuse themselves.) The Defender eyed the distant gates to the state complex, watching the flurry of increased action as the evening guard took their posts and the daytime watchers went about their end-of-shift business. No doubt the fellows who'd granted entry to the War-Forged Ambassador would now be hurrying messages along to Rycaron's office. Though to be fair, Thaumas wondered if Rycaron didn't know already that Fijalahr had arrived. The foreigner was an eye-catching specimen indeed, and with the streets of Inaria under such heavy surveillance, surely one of the Sage's little birds had already sung to him the arrival of this much-sought-after dignitary. "In fact, I'm certain the Sage is eager to make your acquaintance. I will show you to him," continued the old stallion, gesturing with his head at the staircase behind him, indicating that Fijalahr should follow him up its curved steps. "Your journey was not a quiet one, then?" words: 460 tags: ebbarie notes: sorry for the rambly bit in the middle! i was trying to explore his childhood and it didn't really end up working, but i left it in anyways because word counts T_T |
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Post by ebbarie on Jun 14, 2016 7:42:02 GMT -6
Safe arrival, well...sure. It presumably could have been much worse. While one part of his mind was wondering why the defender was smiling now in a strange way out of the nothing after he stared at Fijalahr for some time, the other part still bothered with the question whether he’d just should tell the truth about his arrival here or if the little lie would be the best, just after the thought speech is silver, but silence is gold. Fijalahr made his decision when the Defender asked him about his journey. Better he told Thaumas about what he experienced with the Rouge near the border of Aquore before someone else told him about it. The friesian was too inexperienced with the Talorians so he wasn’t sure how his opponent would react to this story. Fijalahrs eyes wandered upwards along the many many stairs in front of him. To the Sage. One of the most important persons in the Hierarchy of the herd. If his memory was right the Sages name was Rycaio...Rycarion...Rycaron, that was it! Another meeting that he’d better not screw up. The stallion felt the reluctance to climb the staircase up to his bones. He slowly placed one hoof at the first stair, then another and then the other two. “Well...the journey from Onea to Aquore was actually pretty nice. I had no problems on the way.” he replied serenely. Then he slightly lowered his head and picked his next words carefully. “Whereas my arrival in the Wilds was quite...unpleasant. I’ve almost lost the path and had a tiny encounter with some Rouges. One of them had the kindness to lead me out of the rainforest. Without her I might be the dinner for one or the other predator out there. That is the reason why I was not able to send word to you earlier.” While he walked beside Thaumas he took the occasion to take a closer look at the Guardian. The vigorous stallion had seen several Winters more than Fijalahr but he still hold an aura of great strength. It was clear at the first sight that Thaumas was a pretty good choice for the position of the Defender. Fijalahr could surely learn the one or the other from him during his stay. “Thaumas...one thing keeps me mind busy since I placed my first hoof at the street. Where are all the citizens? I know that is late already, but...I’ve seen almost no one the entire way. I really don’t want to be unreasonable curious...it’s just a thing that I noticed.”
words: 434
tags: strixx-variaa
Notes : I'm so sorry that it took me so long awghr ;_;
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Post by strixx-variaa on Jun 18, 2016 11:14:40 GMT -6
Just for half a blink, for the barest fraction of a moment, there was an odd expression on Thaumas's face. It was a furrowed brow and the most subtle tilt of his head -- the sort of expression you'd make if a fly bit you. And it did feel almost as if a verbal gadfly had landed on his expectations and bit a hole right through them. The Wilds? thought the Defender as they walked. He did not sail?Even Kaia's people were comfortable with the ocean, as long years warding off War-Forged raiders had taught him. He'd expected such a long journey to be made on a ship, but if the young Ambassador had needed to forge his way through the Wilds... did he make his journey on foot? Was this some sort of show of strength by the War-Forged? 'Wealth and riches are superfluous, but physical strength is paramount; here, we send him not in the weaklings' comfort of a ship's cabin, but to fend for himself through the wilderness of three nations.' Was that this journey's true purpose? And, too, Thaumas felt the biting feeling at the back of his mind when Fijalahr mentioned Rogues. He couldn't help his ears pinning back for a moment; his dislike for the majority of that particular class was almost reflexive. Oh, they had their uses, fine, but of late they'd been more trouble than the worth of their foreign wares could mitigate. It was about this time that Thaumas Anereus realized the years on this young stallion -- or rather, the lack of them. He was big, and his wolfskin cloak made him seem even bigger, and that was deceiving in a way which prompted a person to think of him first as being much older and much more experienced than he was. Thaumas took a good look at the roaned horse as Fijalahr spoke. Twenties? Early thirties? Green.As they reached the ramparts, Thaumas Anereus paused to look out over the courtyards. "You should address me as Defender Anereus, or Defender," he said gently, quietly, correcting the ambassador's use of his given name. Whomever had taught the young dignitary about Talorian custom had overlooked this point, perhaps. "And," he continued, "when you meet him, you should address the Sage by his title, as well." Thaumas took a breath. This was as good a place as any to pause and speak for just a little while, with a view of most of the palace complex and some of the city of Inaria below. "The Wilds are certainly... unpleasant," he said, looking at Fijalahr again, not unkindly. "I understood you'd taken the sea route, and would arrive directly in the port at Inaria. I apologize; had I known you were arriving by land, my Guardians would have met you at the border." "As for our current state of affairs, I shall leave that story for the Sage's lips, for his are better-suited to tell you what you need to know," said Thaumas. "Suffice for now to say that our nation is under attack from and at war with a group of radicalized terrorists, which necessitates a heightened security presence, especially this close to the Emperor's palace." And with this he paused for a moment and looked away from the sunset vista, directing his eyes at the ambassador. words: 555 tags: ebbarie notes: ❤ |
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Post by ebbarie on Jul 14, 2016 9:26:48 GMT -6
There it was. The very first outright emotion flickered over the defender's face. It was that subtle that the young stallion almost didn’t perceived it, but he was a Mediator, even a pretty good one. This was probably one of the reasons why the War Lord had allowed him to take the position as an Ambassador. That and because the Forged hadn't cared much about the Talorians ( or at least Fijalahr felt like this was one of most important reasons why they sent him to Aquore instead of maybe Valore). With the talent to read in other horses emotions like in open books, the friesian was able to notice the small falter in Thaumas otherwise strong and confident walk, the way he turned his ears back only a little bit and the expression in his piercing blue eyes. Eyes that could probably change from a light to a dark blue which would resemble the ocean during a storm, eyes that could make you feel weak and small immediately if their owner want it. The Defender was surprised about what Fijalahr just told him, that much he knew for sure, but what really was going on in the big stallions head was a mystery for him. At the point the roaned horse mentioned the Rouges, Thaumas did not even tried to hide his antipathy against those...wild members of the Talorian herd. Suddenly, as if the Hippocampus realised that he laid his feelings open in front of a stranger, he brought his facial expressions under control again and changed the topic, gained control over the topic of their conversation too. Even if his deep voice sounded friendly, the Ambassador could here the maybe even unintentional cautionary inflection and now his own ears turned backwards a little bit. “Please forgive Defender, it was not my intention to harm your custom” the black stallion replied honestly. He should listen well if he want to avoid those mistakes in the future. Fijalahr was new to the Talorian culture and home in Onea they only told him the most important and often only vague informations about these herd. Now it was his task to find his own way among these strangers without offending anyone. As Thaumas mentioned the Sage again, the Forged could feel how the nervousness came back and flooded through his veins like adrenaline. The Sage was one of the most important and highest respected horses in the whole Talorian Herd. Another horse he should better not offend with anything. “My apologies again. An eagle was sent, he should have brought you the message that I would arrive by land, but It seems like something is happened to him and he never reached Aquore.” the Ambassador explained. What the Defender told him next left the younger stallion with surprise. Aquore was at war? With their own people? That was quite a news. And so that was why he had seen almost no citizens on the streets. Fijalar was almost a little bit astonished on how honest Thaumas was. Of course something like that couldn’t stay a secret for long, but no one forced him to tell the Ambassador on his first day. The friesian knew that it was easy to notice for his opposite that he had so many questions about those terrorists, but he also saw the warning in Thaumas searchingly gaze. This was a situation to stay quiet. “I’m sorry to hear about those troubles, but I’m certain that you and your Guardians have the situation under control” the Ambassador said prudently and just prayed that it was the right thing to do at the moment.
words: 605 tags: strixx-variaa notes : I'm such a bad person. Like really bad. *throwing stones at myself*
I'm so sorry that it took so long. But now I'm finally free and will continue writing regularly again. |
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