((This is for my Alt-Beginnings plot folks to RP in between sessions every Tuesday night.))

_________________
Eli Hodgewall <{/,~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~X
Sven <=={o===========>
Qeelak \ | / ,

_________________
If i am not about when you are, but you would like to RP with Valkin, chose a time in red (GMT+8) / add character name PM me ICLY/OCC :http://teamup.com/ks662ccbfedda01eb0/

Excitement.

As usual, but perhaps more diligently so that day, Steelsnap found himself oiling his scales to a nearly vain degree. On the wall next to him was his old armor, dusted over from disuse, the single metal plate he had claimed from his first goblin kill still there upon the right shoulder.

It was proof that he had served the Warren then and since, even when wounded, or simply within the tunnels that made their home. Even when so many others had gone and left, or died, he had remained to teach the younger ones his craft.

It was proof that he may have been the last of his generation. Alone even amongst the rest. Reality and a silent shame that he could not grasp, could not understand, cooled his excitement to mere dying coals of what it once was. His eyes looked up to the walls and ceiling, all marked with battles, scenarios, what-if's, that only he could decipher.

I am to meet the All-Watcher.

He continued to polish his scales, but less vigorously.

* * *

"You draw good."

One of the five there spoke to him, as he toyed with presenting a plan to ambush local wildlife to the All-Watcher. All in all, the impressions they all gave him were unfavorable.

Then they were called forward. The high priest and the All-Watcher were working over plans that even a bare glance of made his look childish. Unfavorable impressions indeed.

What they spoke of stirred up that specter of fear, his hate of the other races flaring to the point he had to stifle himself. It was unthinkable, yet...his duty lay in following the All-Watcher and his god, for the good of the warren.

Yet...

* * *

He couldn't bring himself to speak openly as the others did. What they proposed, he considered foolishness. Madness. But, where he did not speak, they did. Freely. With confidence, with care, with one another. The one from before was quickly proving to be the leader, as their spirit talker spoke of circumstances favorable and not.

Why hadn't he joined in? Told them of what he thought? His anger rose in spite of himself, and finally when the one who wished not to slay the Yellow Fang so hastily spoke, he felt something push to challenge him. Soon enough, their unelected leader made it clear they were to quit their arguing, and he found his anger dying once again, as his excitement had.

Why?

* * *

A priest had come to see what their discussions had wrought. The female, for her oddities, had smartly led them to their pillars of history, this one decorated with numerous trade details. Such was not his work, and oddly enough a bit of spite may have mixed in to contribute to his lack of attention.

Once again, why was he simply there. Unable to speak, to offer his wisdom to those who were likely younger than himself. A wisdom of a veteran.

Of a survivor.

Ah...

A sadness he hadn't dared acknowledged swept over him, even as they spoke excitedly of how to play with the humans. It was like an old mate, wrapping about his body even as they decided how to handle diplomacy. For all his size and demeanor, he felt so so small and fragile, standing there before their written history.

"Who shall speak with them?"

Was he so broken?

"When the time comes, I will."

He hadn't expected anything, but still he spoke. In the end, it was decided otherwise, and he was content. Even as they all left to do their part, he stayed behind, looking about the pillar for what the others hadn't. Perhaps they had.

Over two hundred of their merchants had been claimed by Kurtulmak. Beside each name, a mark: "Adventurer".

He stalked off into the tunnels, a dull flame beginning to burn in his chest once more.

_________________
Who are you. What are you. Why do you scream at me?

_________________
If i am not about when you are, but you would like to RP with Valkin, chose a time in red (GMT+8) / add character name PM me ICLY/OCC :http://teamup.com/ks662ccbfedda01eb0/

_________________
"I'm sorry, I can't hear you over the sound of my deafening awesomeness." -Sterling Archer

Clink.

He swung his pickaxe again at the wall, hoping to find something usable.

Clink.

"That isn't possible."

Clink.

"But he said it."

Clink.

"Who?"

Clink.

"The All Watcher."

Ching!

"Are you sure?"

...

"Yes, I heard it! The All Watcher and the Greater Eye!"

Clink.

"We go to war with..."

...clink.

================================

After meeting with Unruk and Ro'viirix after his first round of mining, Steelsnap would find himself in the midst of great confusion with what he had been told that night. Unruk's anger, which perhaps exceeded his own, as much as he did not wish to admit it. Ro's brilliance and madness - he wondered if progeny with such a vexing female would result in further distortions, or perhaps be tempered into something grand-- he instantly dropped the thought.

His mind wandered back to their first expedition. The goblin ambush when they first visited the city of humans. Loric's cowardice during the attack...during it all. His lack of presence not only several moons ago, but that night as well.

Then there was what the other miner had said.

After they had all parted ways to go about their duties of creating battle gear and training the troops, he would find himself returning to the mines in search of the only two miners to mention what the All Watcher and Greater Eye had supposedly said.

It was too soon to come to hasty judgement - this much he had learned over time. He would have to find what had become of Nigltar, and perhaps consult with him as well...

_________________
Who are you. What are you. Why do you scream at me?

*Nigltar an his allies meet within the caverns of the iron spike clan, together they come to final terms as to what will be done an said upon the meeting with the cordor diplomatt, an final words are spoken with the high eye and the allwatcher befor they lay steps foward to the city of copper an moon*



*After arriving at the city an copper moon to the goverment hall they striede were the cleark informed the diplomat of cordor awaits within its halls an so they are seated and to terms they come, ore and gems paid to attend to the cost of enforcment and change within the lands.*



" Nigltar think change come soon, no more adventures come into our lands without reprecutions of blood and cell"

_________________
If i am not about when you are, but you would like to RP with Valkin, chose a time in red (GMT+8) / add character name PM me ICLY/OCC :http://teamup.com/ks662ccbfedda01eb0/

Boring.

After they had departed from the meeting, Ro had seemed rather upset at having to speak at length with the diplomat. Even after a brief encounter with the damned farmer and some adventurers, something niggled at the back of his mind.

Something the diplomat had spoken but he couldn't understand.

It may be as the All Watcher says, but which one of us is using who?

The following days would gnaw at his mind even as he taught his skills to the next generation.

_________________
Who are you. What are you. Why do you scream at me?

Confidence.

She had spent every waking moment not at work reading that book, learning from merchants, practicing Common. She knew how to use words, she could be eloquent when she needed to, just had to focus, keep her head straight.

The others seemed painfully quiet last time, she couldn't say things, she froze up. Maddening, frustrating (terrifying?), irritating. Perhaps she spoke over them, tried to talk too much, no, she didn't think so.

Stress.

The meeting with the Diplomat left her reeling. How could she be expected to maintain a conversation in a tongue as bizarre and contradictory as Common? She couldn't think straight at the end; vexing!

Nigltar helped, Unrak and Steelsnap deafening in silence; not their fault, they couldn't speak Common as well as she and Nigltar; no, she should have been teaching them; no, Nigltar should have taught them; no, Nigltar was busy she was already fluent; no no no, maddening. Perhaps over nothing.

No, she didn't like the meeting. The human seemed too receptive, too eager after hearing of offers of gems and ore. Didn't like it at all. She was smug. Mammals. Always smug. She found herself growing agitated. When the meeting ended, she was truly upset.

Angry.

The sun hurt her eyes; just what she needs! Perfect. The others are talkative again. She passes the farmer. She glares. The others pass by him.

"Heh."

She freezes.

Did he just...

He did.

She slowly turned around. Walked towards him.

"Hey, yip yip yip!"

Mocking her.

He starts asking travelers if they've killed kobolds before.

Hatred.
All she can think is murder. He did not just do that to Ro'Viirix's face. She returns from stressful duties, he hires adventurers to commit genocide. She swears he will pay her vision goes red she will construct for him an elaborate personal hell and she will build this little slice of agony just for him and she will laugh as she engineers every little piece of his life to fail as his crops and his livestock and his very dreams die and then she will continue making her traps and machines and okay she feels better now.

Had to get it out of her system.

It's been a long cycle.

...still going to bleed out that worthless sack of flesh, though.

_________________
"I'm sorry, I can't hear you over the sound of my deafening awesomeness." -Sterling Archer

_________________
If i am not about when you are, but you would like to RP with Valkin, chose a time in red (GMT+8) / add character name PM me ICLY/OCC :http://teamup.com/ks662ccbfedda01eb0/