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Post by DawnsComing on Jun 29, 2018 18:17:10 GMT -6
Hello Starborn, and welcome to Breim Plot 601: Borderlines Team Leader: Doev Participants: Pagan, Isleen, Alari, Jiro, Shasta Please keep the following in mind!- Posts must be a minimum of 175 words. There is no maximum!- No strict order is enforced, but there must be at least two posts between your own character's.- No god-moding or reading characters' minds (unless your pony is a literal telepath, anyway)
- Always get consent before harming another character!- Your team is precious. Try to interact with everyone. <3- Have fun! Even if your pony isn't. 8'DPrompt: You have been chosen for a special task, a meeting of allies and an exchange of goods. Your herd leaders hoof picked you specifically knowing your skills in communication and your positive representation of the herds you hail from. But with war lying on the horizon and chaos around every corner, tensions run high. Your 2 week journey has finally come to an end, and all are more than a little tired and hungry as you near your destination. Unspoken words loom in the air waiting for the right moment. Breim has given much to Serora and now...they want payback. Location: Border of Sirith and Sedo Time of Day: morning Current Weather: mild heat, slightly windy You do not have to wait for your leader to post!
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Post by PaganStars on Jul 2, 2018 12:01:46 GMT -6
Pagan And if you're still breathing, you're the lucky ones
'Cause most of us are heaving through corrupted lungs
Setting fire to our insides for fun
  
x | x
It should be like any other trip, Pagan thought. Make his way towards the border between Sedo and Sirith, met his ever so lovely guide and descended into the earth with them, making their way towards Nariah. He would have a few people he’d need to check up on for delivery’s and requests, partake in some meetings with priests and council members and maybe if there was time he could meet with Hotaru and share a cup of tea.
It would be hectic, but nice in the end.
But a war was coming to Sedo, and the Breimians had provided all they could to their ally. With their own struggles of rebuilding and rehousing an entire city, the people of Breim would need assurance payback.
It was understandable really, to secure a deal before the war ended. But somewhere in the back of Pagan’s head something tugged and pulled at his thoughts. They don’t think you’re going to survive… what could a land of dead horses and new slaves ever payback? Pagan had shaken his head and inhaled deeply, doing all his brothers had taught to keep himself calm once more.
Opening his eyes, Pagan was brought back to reality, looking through rose-coloured glasses at the other two horses that followed close with him. Isleen and Alari were both nice horses, chatty and the right distraction each other needed. They had spent the two-week journey talking and learning about each other and in turn, Pagan had taught them some basic Breim etiquette; how to bow properly and greet one another, what was good and what was taboo. It was quick little lessons but everything would help.
But now two weeks had passed and the three of them found themselves sitting a few miles inside the border of Sirith, waiting for whoever was to greet them. Though hunger and doubt picked at his mind, Pagan kept his head up high and refused to let his mind wander to whatever was happening back home.
Post 1 | 366
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Post by Rhaenera on Jul 2, 2018 18:56:26 GMT -6
 Isleen;Serora Windracer
One day you'll leave this world behind, So live a life you will remember.Utter excitement, that's what it started as at least. It still was somewhere under the fatigue and gurgling stomach. Travel to the Boarder of Sirith and meet with allies, it wasn't exactly what Isleen was imagining when they were given the special task, adventure.
It was hot and the journey was long, between the sand and the sweat her paint for good luck had long worn off. It reminded her of the days she traveled with the nomads as a child, this was the adventure, the opportunity, she hungered for when joining them. They had never gone this far or this long, at least they never went so long without a proper meal.
But they never went to Sirith's border.
The closest she had ever come to the border was the crash that took the sight of her left eye. It was just as she remembered it, she also remembered how much easier the trip was with her windboard but this time she left without it; it was discouraged for this task. She didn't realize how much she'd miss it.
Well, the trip wasn't that bad, she thought. Sharing stories with Avari and learning about Breim from Pagan kept it interesting, kept her mind distracted as she rehearsed it in her head more times than she cared to count. This was important, Serora trusted them with the Task and she needed the Sucess. Things seemed to get a little quieter as they approached the border, it didn't seem like tensions were high to Isleen, rather than eagerness to meet whoever was supposed to speak with them.
Isleen herself was content, today she could prove herself. Today her thoughts all those years were proven to her. Alya provided the path she was meant to take, now Isleen stood at the border of Sirith the way she intended. Nothing would happen this time. This was what Alya wanted, she protected all of them.
Isleen was sure of it.
WC: 326 | Post #1 |
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Post by CaptainFlowers on Jul 2, 2018 22:40:12 GMT -6
A L A R I
Serora | Folk Potter
... ...
Alari tipped his head into the wind and breathed in the scent of shrubs that it brought. He missed the sweet, heady tang of bountiful cacti already, but it was nice to be back in Sirith. No one was more surprised than Alari when he had been summoned to help with this Breim exchange. Ithaca had nearly fallen over, but Alari assured him everything would be fine and made his way back to Sedo from the settlement of Ueno. It seemed round about to him to just go back to where he started, but at least this way he got to to get to know who he was traveling with. Isleen was fun to share stories with, which he did most days, and Pagan knew so much about Breim. Some sounded familiar to what Ithaca told him when he first came to the settlement, but Alari forgot a good chunk of it so Pagan’s refresher was nice and needed.
It pained Alari to see the thinner forms of his herd mates. That, by far, had been the worst part of this trip. The drought hadn’t effected him as much due to his location, but when traveling back towards Sedo, he couldn’t help but hurt at the sight of his herd and land hurting.
Shaking those thoughts away, Alari turned his head back to the group and suddenly remembered something. All the thought of herd mates and cacti had brought it to mind, “Oh! Guys! I’ve got us something, for good luck and all,” Alari flipped open his saddle bags and pulled out three flowers, “I got these all for us! Pagan you’re is the pink one since you’re pink and all, and this one’s for you Isleen! It’s red like mine.” He passed them out as he spoke and then tucked his own flower behind his ear, “You can always use some extra luck!”
... ... Word Count: 314 Post: 1 |
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Post by Doot.a.doi.toi.toi on Jul 6, 2018 0:56:26 GMT -6
Doev
The Moon, Death, and The Magician reversed.
His pen scratched out the final tallies into the shipment ledger before it was closed with a dull, puffing thump.
There were several kilograms of spoiled rations that he had noted during the counting process, marking each with a red grease pencil as the burlap puffed the smell of mold at him. It was nothing unusual for 2-week’s transport and, on average, nothing of consequence. For Serora, however, spoilage wasn’t an affordable luxury. He’d had the spoiled rations sequestered from the bulk goods as an alternative to disposal—the dried air would stall the fungal growth, and in a pinch, the Serorans could attempt to salvage what healthy tubers remained from the batch. He anticipated that his sentiment might land as a perceived insult before crumpling the thought. Survival rarely smiled upon wasted opportunities, and he would spare just as little pity for such entitlement. ‘Beggars couldn’t be choosers,’ not when Breim had little left to provide.
Doev turned away from the two-wheeled sprung cart and stepped out from the morning shadow of the sand-scoured ravine, the sparse canopy of the acacia casting his coat in a shifting dapple of golden sunlight. Beggars: in ‘not so many words,’ that was what the ‘symbiotic’ Seroran alliance had boiled-down to for the Umare, and as he took notice of an approaching smear of vibrant pink feathers in the otherwise drab and molting scrubland, it confirmed that Serora had anticipated the approaching ultimatum. Pagan, a diplomat, would not be present for a routine exchange without. Doev shifted the scar-stretched ruin of his blind eye in the approximate direction of his companions. “Bring out the cart and mind your surroundings—there’s no knowing who else might be watching.”
Doev then slipped out from the thin shadows of the sparse copse to meet the small Seroran caravan, the morning sun setting his bronze coat alight in a dazzling metallic polish.
“Wind beneath your wings, Pagan.” Doev called out, the stony rasp beneath his voice pronounced in an unnatural volume for the soft-spoken Breimian—his ‘affably tired,’ crooked smile standing stark beside the terse, puncturing scrutiny of his single eye.
Word Count: 355 | Post #1 |
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Post by catac0rny on Jul 6, 2018 20:03:19 GMT -6
Shasta  | [ post # 1 || word count: 465] |
Deep breaths, Shasta thought to herself. She looked over the paper once more, reading the names off for what had to be the hundredth time. Pagan, apparently he was of the rank peacekeeper. Isleen...a windracer, and someone named Alari who was a potter. She had been assured they were all respectable Serorans that were picked for their noteworthiness. And today she was projected to meet them all.
She looked up from the paper and into the small mirror she held in her teke, making sure she was sorted. Pulling a comb through her forelock and making sure none of her braids had fallen from their place on the curve of her neck, she straightened her glasses that rested on the bridge of her nose.
After two weeks of travel, the meeting at the border was fast approaching. The travel hadn’t been easy. As a member of the Royal Family, she hardly left Nariah and to be so far from home was taking its toll. Though she had Doev and Jiro by her side, the trip had been filled with overwhelming emotion. Her whole life had been spent underground and to be above was a new world, literally. At first the sunlight had hurt her eyes and she wore tinted glasses to protect them. The dirt under hooves and the sunshine on her back was hot and unfamiliar. Still, there was such beauty in it. The sky stretched on forever, its vast expanse seemingly never ending. The mountains in the distance towered high, higher than anything she had ever seen but she still longed for the winding caverns and glowing stones of the underground.
However, there was far too much at stake to focus on the beauty of her new surroundings. The serorans, briems closest ally, were suffering. They needed all of the help they could get and while Briem was doing its best to support them, no one was sure if it would be enough to help them through a war against arguably the most dangerous faction in Hireath.
At Doev’s words, she stood from her position leaned against a large boulder and shook the sand from her dark coat which had already become slightly bleached from the new exposure to the suns rays that had scarcely touched her before. She stuck close to the cart and Jiro, one of the Watch. On her left walked Moo, her Gytrash who protected her at all costs. She felt terrified at the prospect of meeting these strangers but there was no turning back now. Everything had happened so fast, hell she was walking on the surface, meeting those who relied on the kindness of her faction should be the least of her problems; yet she felt her teke grip one of the knives tied to her forelegs.
"Look at me standing, here on my own again." |
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Post by PaganStars on Jul 10, 2018 16:39:30 GMT -6
Pagan And if you're still breathing, you're the lucky ones
'Cause most of us are heaving through corrupted lungs
Setting fire to our insides for fun
x | x
Lost in his own mind, Pagan had barely registered Isleen and Alari’s quiet conversation; a mere blip on the trembling map that was currently his mind. It took Alari stepping in front of him to draw himself out, blinking before shaking his head and regaining composure, carefully grabbing whatever he was holding out for him.
Looking down at it, Pagan couldn’t help but smile softly at the pink flower, using his teke to bring it up to his nostril and feel its velvety texture, taking in its gentle scent. ‘You can always use some extra luck!’ His words rang true, and Pagan gently tucked the flower into his scarf, shielding it from the harsh sunlight. Looking back at the two, Pagan offered a tired yet hopeful smile “Come, we are almost there.”
And so they began to move forward again, away from the shade and into the more open land. It wasn’t long before Pagan (even with his poor eyesight) spotted the Breim convoy, his stomach suddenly fluttering and forcing him to hold his breath. But as they got closer, he slowly gained ahold of himself once more. In, out, in, out. One step at a time. Farah was a comfort at his side, her purr deep as she sensed his anxiety.
Stopping short of the three Breimian figures, Pagan glanced back at his own companions before Doev greeted them, the familiar words of his home calming his beating heart. Dropping his right hoof forward and bending down, Pagan found slowly easing into his practised peacemaker ways, holding the stance for a moment before standing and nodding his head “They have seen us meet,” he hoped that he wasn’t being too forthright, but Doev and Shasta were familiar faces. “And we thank you for that” he smiled, hoping it hid the tiredness in his eyes.
“Please, Let me introduce you to my companions; Alari, a talented potter and Isleen, a tremendous windsurfer. “
Post 2 | 355
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Post by Rhaenera on Jul 11, 2018 6:43:54 GMT -6
Isleen;Serora Windracer
One day you'll leave this world behind, So live a life you will remember. Oh! Guys! I’ve got us something, for good luck and all,
Even in the depths of day dreaming Isleen was attentive to those around her. Should Alari want to share another story, or Pagan have another tip- her ears were always open, her attention always forward. As soon as Alari started to speak Her attention was on them, a smile and eyes of awe lighting her face as she very carefully took the flower in her teke. A shade of red similar to the flower itself envoloping the delicate thing.
Flowers, they were such a rarity these days. Serora was going through so much the land rarely had time for flowers. Alya, rarely had time for flowers. During the Drout the little things were some of the firsts to wither away, but they were slowly coming back with the Land. Slowly. The Oasis was where you found the most of them now; Oh, the Oasis. The gift from Alya herself that saved them all just as they were about to lose hope. She'd only been there for short amounts of time but it was always amazing, beautiful. One could feel the Sky Mother's presence in that place. These flowers must be from there. At least she'd pretend they were.
“You can always use some extra luck!” Isleen's smile found Alari upon hearing the comment, nodding as she tucked the Flower into her, slightly less than normal, matted mane. Agreeing in a cheery pep, "We sure can!" What exactly they needed luck for Isleen wasn't sure, but she didn't think about it for long. Pagan got the both of their attention."Come, we're almost there."
Isleen wanted to leap and frolick like the filly she honestly still was, it was hard to contain the excitement with the idea of meeting someone from another herd (And she didn't do it well). Kicking off a little faster than the rest of the group, a little more eager it seemed, too. She didn't know what to expect, or who they were meeting. Was it only one? Was she told their names? She couldn't really remember.
For the first time in the trip, Isleen felt nervous as they approached the three strangers from another herd, another world. "Wind beneath your wings, Pagan." She was sure of herself with Pagan's quick course on Breimian etiquette before, but now she could barely remember a thing- and did they use a Seroran greeting?
It seemed she wasn't the only one that stood unsure, the mare that met them stood quietly just like Isleen did. She looked uncertain, uncomfortable even. Isleen watched as Pagan demonstrated the bow he had explained to them, along with the Breim greeting. They seemed friendly enough, it took everything in her power not to burst out in some sort of odd question. She had so many of them.
"-Isleen, a tremendous Windracer." Isleen realized she'd been staring, she wasn't sure for how long. She had to do something now, attention was brought to her. If they hadn't already noticed she was entirely new to this, they did now. So she did the first thing that came to mind, it seemed like the right thing. Isleen mimicked Pagan's bow, perhaps a little less deep, and a little longer. She hoped it was good, she needed this to go perfectly. "They have seen us meet." She spoke, rather quickly- but friendly, lifting from the bow. At this point she was taking cues from Pagan, she just hoped she wasn't wrong, he did seem to know them. Was she being too friendly?
What an odd Herd, She thought. She didn't quite understand all the formalities. Life in Serora was so much more simple.
WC: 615 | Post #2 |
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Post by Doot.a.doi.toi.toi on Jul 15, 2018 1:52:48 GMT -6
Doev
The Moon, Death, and The Magician reversed.
Doev bowed in a manner comparable to a heavy-eyed, somnolent nod. His attention shifted to the Seroran mare who had nervously imitated Breimian custom, his single eye flashing and glittering in perusal before he smiled through a spell of resonant, mind-lulling laughter.
“I am Doev Croix of the King’s Guide,” he said without reverence, then nodded in gesture toward his entourage as segue to an introduction. “This is Shasta, a member of our extended royal family, and Jiro, an esteemed member of the Watch,” he informed with thread-bare mirth, turning somewhat toward his companions without looking at them—his eyes leveled on the other diplomat in a welcoming, but vigilant, manner. Dread, Doev noted; he had seen it first when the diplomat had shown sudden relief at the slightest bit of kindness shown, and he was seeing it once more through the creases hidden beneath the wrinkles of a smile. His eyes shifted to the desert flowers the Seroran civilians bore with a certain sense of optimism and innocence for the moment, and Doev drew his mouth into a taught line. These civilians were completely unaware of the whole of the situation—or grossly misinformed. Isleen's gesture had not been the 'simpering' he had initally suspected it as, but simply polite.
“You’ve taught them our customs, Pagan—“ he complimented, nodding toward Isleen and Alari, before his voice, unexpectedly, dropped as dead and heavy as lead “—but haven’t you forgotten something?” Doev looked pointedly at the diplomat. He allowed his pause to settle uncomfortably before he answered for him.
“What Pagan hasn’t mentioned is that Serora—in full knowledge that they’ve yet to uphold their end of our agreement—have been anticipating an ultimatum from Breim. A diplomat would not be sent for porter’s work otherwise,” Doev explained, frowning through his words, "and in recognizing that anticipation now, I find it difficult to avoid questioning why this issue hadn’t been addressed—and resolved—before we, Breim, were forced to move towards correcting this error. Even now, you’ve been sent empty-handed—where even the smallest offering would have made a profound difference diplomatically.”
His restrained annoyance passed through the leavening of a slow and steady sigh. “Understand that I’m not naïve to your hardships—however, you all need understand the reality of your situation: Breim cannot afford a lack of symbiosis.” Doev furrowed his brow, looking between the three of them coolly before, ultimately, his eyes settled on Pagan once more.
“I'm sorry.”
Doev paused, expectant.
Word Count: 414 | Post #2 |
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Post by CaptainFlowers on Jul 15, 2018 17:39:33 GMT -6
A L A R I
Serora | Folk Potter
......
Living in Breim for a bit certainly had some perks, mostly he remembered to bow and did it right when Pagan introduced him. He was also grateful he’d remembered to give out the flowers, especially once Doev started talking. Between his words and Shasta’s knives on her legs, Alari was starting to feel a bit nervous.
And a little bit mad at Doev. Most people he met and liked because most equines he met were good people. But between Doev’s tone and that cloud of incense that trailed him, Alari felt uneasy around him. He complained about Serora when Serora couldn’t really do anything and Alari didn’t see how taking that out on Pagan, Isleen, and him really helped. So they hadn’t brought anything? Not like they could change that now and no need to so coldly about it.
Alari stepped forward, the brittle scrubland grass breaking under his hoof with a dull crunch. The drought may just be afflicting Serora, but even this in-between land showed signs of distress. Still, the grass hung on as did the spined shrubs and twisted trees, “I wouldn’t say Serora has given Breim nothing. I’ve been in Ueno, on your soil, for months. All my pottery work has been taken underground and it’s good work that sells high. That all goes to your herd, not mine. And the hospital in Ueno serves you too! Serorans work there too!” Alari let off a huff, “I’m no politician and maybe you think different, but I don’t see why we’re expected to give back more when they’re still skin and bones,” it didn't take an oracle to see the thin forms of his friends, “If you want something, take my flower.” Alari stepped closer to Doev, a tall horse made taller by Alari’s small stature, and help his flower out, his mouth pressed into a thin line and brows furrowed.
... ... Word Count: 314 Post: 2 |
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Post by catac0rny on Jul 16, 2018 10:43:14 GMT -6
Shasta | [ post # 2 || word count: 277] |
At Doev’s introduction, Shasta bowed gently in greeting to the serorans. She looked each of them over with cautious curiosity. She thought she saw a flash of familiarity cross Pagans face, but she disregarded it. The other two, introduced as Alari and Isleen, seemed less confident than the diplomat, more unsure of their actions. Shasta turned to look at Doev, listening to him carefully yet confidently explain the cross roads they found themselves at.
Once he had finished his explanation that Shasta couldn’t help but agree with, she was fascinated to find that it was Alari who spoke up first. The small stallion brought up his pottery work, and the hospital that Serorans worked at in Ueno and his voice held such conviction, as did his face.
“You must understand where we find ourselves,” Shasta began, her voice level and calm. “Briem appreciates your pottery, and the service your herd provides the Ueno hospital is of much importance but said service does not equate to what Briem is sacrificing so that your herd can survive in such a time of struggle and war.”
“You have come here empty handed and seemingly full of spite, yet you expect us to offer up whatever we have, as if it is our obligation and not our kindness.” She took the flower from him and then gently placed it back where it had sat behind his ear. “The relation of our two great herds needs to be mutually beneficial, you understand. We understand that such times are hard on Serora but there must be some benefit to Briem, a return of what we have given up to help you.” She nodded.
"Look at me standing, here on my own again." |
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Post by Rhaenera on Jul 19, 2018 5:16:20 GMT -6
Isleen;Serora Windracer
One day you'll leave this world behind, So live a life you will remember. Initially she smiled at Doev's introduction and what seemed to be a good start to their meeting with the Diplomats of Breim. Boy was she relieved Doev introduced himself and the rest they were meeting because she couldn't remembr if she had been told about them or not.
A King's Guide, Shasta part of the Royal Family, and Jiro a Guard. Something felt like she should be excited and honored to meet Breim Royalty by the tone Doev introduced them. Pagan had mentioned the Breim custom of Bowing had to do with their position, but she didn't really soak it up well. Royalty was somewhat a new term and difficult understanding to Isleen. Despite all her learning, it was hard for her Seroran mind to wrap around the idea of a Monarchy, the idea they didn't choose their leader, why they were considered of greater importance than their brothers and sisters. It seemed so wrong but it wasn't her place to say anything, at least she understood that much.
Praise. It filled Isleen with delight when the King's Guide complimented Pagan for sharing his Knowledge with them. She had always looked up to Pagan, a Peacemaker between Serora and Breim. He got to Travel and see things most horses never get to see, make friends with horses in other herds. Who else could say they did that. Traveling with and Learning from him filled her with Pride, being complimented on traditions he taught them filled her with even more.
All was well, she was beaming. And then Doev's tone dropped heavier than a Rock.
“—but haven’t you forgotten something?”
The voice was so dark for the Stallion that had spoken so softly before, it sat uncomfortably heavy and thick in the air. Her ears pinned to the back of her head, shifting nervously on her feet like she were to back out the way they came. Isleen was never the best at realizing a situation had gone sour, but the sudden tension between the two sides was so thick it felt like they would all choke and suffocate on it. What were they forgetting? She didn't like this- what was the word, Hostility?
Isleen frowned as Doev further explained. For once in her life, she wished she didn't understand these things. It would be so much easier, and much less frightening, to have no clue what this Guide was saying. To know this wasn't some impatient attitude but thoughts and words from Breim's Leaders and This is what they thought about Serora.
As Alari spoke out against the Breimian's claim's and Demands, Isleen took it more to heart. It hurt. Did these horses truly understand Serora's hardships like Doev claimed? What could Serora give just yet? The Sky Mother disappeared, her lands- their home was dying. They lost so many and they struggled to feed those that remained. So many Children without parents, Families without their children. They had nothing to spare, even a small offering could be the difference between life and death for their brothers and sisters. Did Breim not understand this?
In Shasta's addition to Breim's argument, Isleen had realized the dangers of this war for what they were. Serora had already barely survived the drought, they were still recovering. At their weakest Aodh declared war on them, They marched on their home right now. The thought terrified her, Breim wanted them to give what little they had for diplomatic face when the three of them may return to a wasteland. It sounded like the lack would result in the three returning home empty-hooved. If Aodh destroyed the only resources they have, if they found the Oasis- what Breim provided would be all they had. They could still lose more lives even if they didn't.
"Doesn't equate?" Her tone was timid, shaken. "But you said even the smallest offering would make a difference. What if that is all we have to give?" She didn't want to be rude, but she wanted to make a point. She wanted them to hear her. Where was their sympathy? Their understanding. If it was their herd, they'd think differently. "We could die, All of us. So many of us have been lost even with the help of Breim. We've watched Families lose their children, Children lose their families. Our Sultan sent other horses- like you and me, their families, to be enslaved.. All to save our herd, yet our family continues to dwindle."
She wasn't so good at this. It wasn't as easy as she had imagined and her emotions easily got the best of her. Normally she'd be in untouchable bliss, but this weighed like the world was on their shoulders. And in a way, it was. "Serora's first commandment is to take responsibility for our Mistakes. We do our best with the Hospital work and the Pottery Alari provides. We have nothing to give today, not tomorrow, not the day after that. But when we are able Serora will repay our gratitude. If we starve..we can do nothing."
She Paused, Swallowing the lump in her throat. Please, Hear us, Don't leave us and our herd to die.
WC: 859 | Post #3 |
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Post by PaganStars on Jul 20, 2018 19:28:59 GMT -6
Pagan And if you're still breathing, you're the lucky ones
'Cause most of us are heaving through corrupted lungs
Setting fire to our insides for fun
x | x
Pagan hopes were beginning to grow as they talked with the three Breimians, nodding to each as Doev introduced them. He smiled softly, but that quickly dropped when Doev began to speak, the air suddenly dry as the desert they had come from. His own smile fell ever so slightly and he fought to hold his ears forward. Pagan could already feel the tears brimming in the corners, hidden by his glasses. He had been through so much in the last months, had seen so much and learned this he had never wanted to hear. He was well past his breaking point, but he pushed on.
So when Alari stepped forward, unabashed and not tied down by political knowledge, he felt his heart flutter, thankful for the other two Seroran’s with him. Shasta’s words angered him, her privilege showing through her skin so blatantly. He opened his mouth to speak and defend their words when Isleen beat him to it.
Her words rung beautifully true, and for a moment Pagan was reminded of his family, wondering where Yesh and Donny and Abram and all their kids and the rest of his siblings were, what they were doing while he ran away to try and bring help. He held his breath until Isleen stopped speaking, finally taking his own turn.
“Their words are true,” he started softly, his eyes flicking to the floor “We have brought nothing because we are left with little, our homes abandoned in the hope that just maybe we can escape from them and survive another day.” he inhaled, his eyes shifting up to meet Shasta’s “You need to understand that we. are. Dying. While you’re people are safe and sound underground, Aodh marches upon us to enslave and slaughter. You’ve seen what they can do, seen how their Boy king almost burnt your capital to smithereens. And that was unintentional. Aodh is a power hungry beast and they will not stop at just our people,” he snapped his eyes shut, he was getting off track.
Opening them once more, he looked up at them “Isleen is right; when we are safe and able to breathe without the fear of fire engulfing us we will repay you, and then some. We just need help,even if it’s a little. Please, let our people work together again, let our mother reach out towards your guardian.” his legs were shaking, and he felt like running away but he stayed, looking at Isleen and not meeting the eyes of the people who held their lives in their grasp.
Post 3 | 463
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Post by Doot.a.doi.toi.toi on Jul 22, 2018 2:17:10 GMT -6
Doev
The Moon, Death, and The Magician reversed.
Umare mannerisms brought a turn in the debate and elicited a terse narrow of his metallic eyes. His teke seemed to come up in a shooing motion before it continued to his forehead, excusing the motion while it combed ghostly fingers through his wind-tussled mane. Again, his eyes shifted to hold the pale Serora mare whole. Fear—a deep and rotting fear had turned Serora septic, and Isleen, Alari and Pagan stood as testament to this ‘spiritual disease.’ Begging and an appeal to Breimian bleeding hearts wouldn’t change the unpleasant circumstances of the real world, but fear had turned the Serorans desperate, irrational, and dogged. It was inherently self-interested—but it was a self-interest he couldn't blame.
Doev frowned, straddling pessimism and internal recalculations, and when Pagan voiced a religious sentiment, his weighty stare leveled with the Seroran diplomat. “And let us also remember the strength to fight for ourselves,” he added gently before, with a meditative breath, Doev continued, his voice once more a richly soft-spoken rasping.
“Let me present to you a hypothetical ethical dilemma: there are two dying of illness; one is a friend, and one is a family member. You treat them, but your money begins to run out and you can only afford enough medicine for one. Do you treat both—which could lead to improper treatment, resulting both withering and dying? Or do you choose who will be treated and survive?” He asked rhetorically, allegorically. “Stand this example beside our current situation in your heads—do you understand Breim’s perspective?”
“Breim has always had no choice but to rely on imported goods. We’re forced to ration our citizens, and exporting to Serora therefore creates a deficit,” explained Doev, “and without the means to pay for this deficit, Breim will continue to have less and less until we’re forced to cut off exports in order to survive ourselves. This is not a question of ‘will not,’ but ‘cannot.’ Do you believe nature intends to be cruel when it cannot bring you rain?” He gestured broadly to the drought-withered landscape surrounding them in a wide, sweeping arc of his smoke-like teke. “It’s not personal, there’s no malevolence behind it, and there’s no one to blame—that’s just what happens, that’s just reality, and you can only ever stagnate or adapt. So continue to speak as though I’m heartless—should it suit you—but the reality here is that Breim cannot sustain this, and I— ” Doev stooped to lower his height to eye level with the Serorans “—I am here to work with Serora to make this sustainable, so neither of us starve. Set aside fear for the moment and think, because we’re not Aodh—we're the allies trying to help you withstand them.”
Word Count: 459 | Post #3 |
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Post by catac0rny on Jul 25, 2018 21:12:50 GMT -6
Shasta | [ post # 3 || word count: 339] |
Shasta was taken aback by Isleens rebuttal. The smaller mare’s words were full of passion and concern for her herd, and though Shasta understood those concerns, she couldn't help but feel a deep sense of guilt. It could be so clearly seen on her face as well, her eyebrows knitting together and the avoiding of eye contact. Though she thought she could see disdain in Pagans. Though, his words burned her. ‘Safe and sound, underground.’ She almost scoffed at this statement. Perhaps from the outside Briem did appear to be a utopia, but she knew better. Even in the caverns there was tension and danger of which no one knew when it would come to a head, but they all knew the clock was ticking on.
At Doev’s response she waited patiently until he appeared to be done speaking before opening her mouth. “Pagan, believe me when I say I, we, are all aware of the deep threat that Aodh poses to not just Serora, but the rest of Hireath.” She explained. “And Isleen, you are beautifully spoken. What you say about your herd reminds me of the way I feel for my people in Briem. To care so deeply for those around you is a beautiful thing.” She took a deep breath and cleared her throat.
“However, Doev is correct. We are not Aodh, we have come here because we do want to help, and if we cannot it is not because we don’t wish we could. Believe me, if that was the situation here I would not have left the caves i've called home all my life to meet with you all. The world above was a daunting reality but I faced it because this is an important cause to me, the rest of the royal family, and all of Briem and its horses. Doev is correct, We are here to work with you, not against you.” She said, putting on her warmest smile in hopes that they would find understanding for her side of the equation.
"Look at me standing, here on my own again." |
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Post by Rhaenera on Jul 28, 2018 2:44:49 GMT -6
Isleen;Serora Windracer
One day you'll leave this world behind, So live a life you will remember. Isleen stood almost in a daze. Pagan's words rang just as true as her own, their pleas were so sincere and desperate the Breim diplomats just had to listen to them- that's what she thought.
But this wasn't Serora.
The gaze that had met Pagan's so full of hope- crushed as Doev spoke. His analogy wasn't wrong, Serora would pick Family, in fact they were now, but Breim wasn't dying. Were they? With each explanation, each analogy, each rhetorical question- Isleen found her self near bitter with these diplomats. Exports? She had read about The Point, Why would horses claiming to struggle sell their food away? In addition, Sirith was covered in food but they hid underground. Her whole life she used what she could and took only what she needed to survive, They all did. So Why did these horses take so much for granted? Just as Alari had pointed out, many of their herd remained so thin to allow as many as possible to eat, but these horses stood in front of them without a bone in sight.
No, Nature doesn't intend to be cruel, Isleen thought, But you aren't nature.
Shasta had sweeter words, but it wasn't any different than what Doev had said. It changed nothing. It irked her further that these horses were so sheltered to to real world. Daunting. That was something Serora understood more than she believed any Herd did, and this Royal Mare had the audacity to compare it to the reality of this situation. To half of Serora starving and the other half falling to War.
Still, Isleen knew she had to push all the bitterness aside. To give this herd and these arrogant horses benefit of a doubt frustrated her, but it was all they could do. She had to do her Part. She was sent here for a reason- Alya believed in her, so she had to believe in herself. Believe in all of them. There had to be something they could do. Their Herd depended on them.
She swallowed the lump in her throat, at least they were willing to find a solution. She couldn't speak for Pagan, for their Sultan, but she was convinced if she found something- anything, They would agree. "Even in this position, we still have nothing to give." Isleen paused, looking between the Breim horses. It could have appeared that it were with purpose, but she was honestly just trying to find something to say. Anything. "If Ueno is helping, then maybe we can do more. We can come to help when you need it. Imports and Exports, you said coming out of your City is Daunting, which means having some help here on the Surface would be nice right?" A worried glance to Alari, and then Pagan, hoped she wasn't overstepping her position. "And Alari's pottery. It's something we have that we give to you to sell, maybe we can do that with some other resources. If you have more things to sell, you'll be able to buy the food you need- or you won't have to sell any away." She fidgeted on her hooves, the butterflies in her stomach turned into nausea that left her feeling feverish in the heat. She hoped her Herd mates had other ideas to add. If they could appeal to these Diplomats that's a start to something.
They already had one agreement go wrong. They couldn't afford another to.
They couldn't return home with the empty hooves of Failure.
WC: 589 | Post #4 |
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Post by CaptainFlowers on Jul 28, 2018 13:39:33 GMT -6
A L A R I
Serora | Folk Potter
......
These Breim were mean. At least Alari thought that. Sure, they probably weren’t always mean, but right now they were and that’s what frustrated Alari. Breim had so much! He’d seen that with Ithaca and Mas in Ueno. Why did they have to be so rude about it. Sure, what they said kinda made sense, and he got where Pagan and Isleen were coming from, but still. It wasn’t very nice. He didn’t understand why they couldn’t agree on something that would benefit them both. That’s why when Isleen started speaking Alari started nodding along. She was making sense! There were ways Serora could hold this bargain like Uneo! And he knew that first hoof.
“We definitely have things to offer,” Alari smiled at Isleen, “Maybe not a lot now, but once the herd is back on it’s hooves we’ll have even more. We can send blown glass and woven baskets along with pottery. We could bring some Creators up to Uneo so you’ll get the product even quicker. So like. More profit less of a chance of stuff breaking or spoiling on the way! We could even do Uneo on a bigger scale. You’ve got so much farmland here that’s not being used! We could send in people who know how to farm in harsh environments and help get more farms set up for Breim. That food would be yours. Or just like,” Alari paused and looked back at Pagan, hoping he wasn’t overstepping. He felt like he was on a roll now, building off of what Isleen said, “Serora has a long memory. Call and we’ll come. We can give you aid you need, but only if we get through this.”
... ... Word Count: 283 Post: 3 |
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Post by PaganStars on Aug 7, 2018 13:11:24 GMT -6
Pagan And if you're still breathing, you're the lucky ones
'Cause most of us are heaving through corrupted lungs
Setting fire to our insides for fun
x | x
Pagan’s jaw had been tightening with all of Doev’s words, the feathers along his spine raising as his emotions rose to, his eyebrows furrowing. Every word seemed like a veiled insult, like Doev and Breim in turn couldn’t be bothered to help them. All the time he had spent there, learning and interacting with their lovely herd seemed wasted. Pagan had closed his eyes and turned away, needing just a moment to clear his head. But Doev kept going.
“Set aside fear for the moment and think, because we’re not Aodh—we're the allies trying to help you withstand them”
Inhaling sharply, Pagan opened his eyes and looked at the grassland before him. He felt a multitude of things; fury and anger at both Aodh and Breim, a sense of being wronged of something, a great sadness in his heart that had been laying there for far to long and finally an unstoppable fear of death and worse that crawled through his stomach and spine. He focused on these, and slowly exhaling, did his best to let them go. Doev was right. This was a political situation and though Serora was desperate, it was no time for begging with no reward in sight.
Shasta’s words barely reached Pagan and for a moment he felt those emotions rearing up again for her words did not reassure him. But Pagan breathed deeply once more and turned back, his eyes meeting Doev’s only.
“I apologize, for my behaviour. You… will never understand what I- what we are going through. The emotions and heartbreak. But you are right, it is not the time for our feelings to get the best of us. I have made a fool of myself today,” he had more to say, but Pagan stopped as Alari and Isleen spoke, their ideas broad.
Pagan nodded at Alari, eyes turning to Doev once more “It is true, we were foolish not to bring someone along with us today but the circumstances of our departure would not allow it. But my companions are right and their ideas are sure. Glass and metals are aplenty in the desert, along with herbs and spices that Breim may not have easy access to. We could continue to trade with Breim tenfold, but drop our prices for a negotiated time. Breim would be able to gain exports that could then, in turn, be sold elsewhere for a larger profit.”
Pagan looked at his companions, smiling slightly at their ability to tough through this where he had failed and lost himself “Farmland could be constructed once more by Serora in the more stable regions, and like Alari has said. Serora has a long memory, even when we were but a group of nomads in the desert. If Breim is to help us now, we will come when called. That idea may not seem like a lot, but a dependable ally is worth tenfold.” He watched Doev silently, trying to gauge his reactions. This was not the finale meeting they would have, no Serora would need to meet with Briem to secure these deals if Doev deemed Serora’s words true.
Post 4 | 557
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Post by Doot.a.doi.toi.toi on Aug 11, 2018 19:44:01 GMT -6
Doev
The Moon, Death, and The Magician reversed.
A pregnant silence followed his words and in it, Doev registered their contempt. Easy when looking upon the Umare to believe the whole of Breim enjoyed a privileged existence—when comparing the polished hides and healthy fat of their caste to the exposed bone and tight skin of the Serorans. Breim was misrepresenting itself, and the consequential culture shock painted the image of a naïve, entitled, and self-interested society. It was an error he wouldn’t correct, an assumption he wouldn’t contradict, and the very catalyst he required. As the Umare demanded this ‘squeeze’ of the economy, it would be both Serora and the Kawaru that would feel the pinch. He was, after all, only a glorified messenger.
Patiently, he observed as the Serorans closed ranks at once, as one, and the sight crackled in his eyes. Serora, it seemed, still had some strength to fight.
Doev seemed oddly at peace before he was disturbed by the wooden creak of the cart as it was pulled up behind him, and he cast it a cursory glance while his teke casually retrieved the shipment ledger from his saddlebags. He pulled free a loose, halved paper from the book and held it out to Pagan with a single nod to suffice for a bow.
“You should find everything in order,” Doev said, reconciled. “Your proposition will be delivered to the High King, where it will be placed under review. I will inform my superiors that I have advised Serora to hold off on its end until a trade agreement has been delivered with your next shipment—this should provide you enough time for preparation. As for dependability, prove me correct in truly believing that is in your hearts. Come when we call, and Breim will remember.”
Word Count: 293 | Post #4 |
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Post by DawnsComing on Aug 26, 2018 18:40:18 GMT -6
Your plot is complete! Stay tuned for a wrap-up journal!20 AP and 20 CS to all participants!
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