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Post by ash on Apr 13, 2017 18:55:29 GMT
“Stop thrashing.” Roan hissed. “I will not hurt you:” Because why would he? There was no glory in killing a helpless girl and it brought him nothing good. So he had no intention of hurting her. He’d offer her water and help treat the injuries even. Once he knew she was no enemy. But her words surprised him a great deal. He loosened his grip a little, not holding her as hard as he did before, because he believed her. She reminded him more of a scared little foal than an enemy. So why would they hunt her? And why would she not recognize these scars as Azgeda an their paint as Triku? The answer came to him when he really took in her clothing. That was no clothing of any of the clans. And she was on Trikru territory. That alone could be a reason for them to be pissed.
“Those are not my people!” Roan said. “Those are Trikru. I’m Azgeda. A different clan. My people don’t live here. We live North. And guessing by your ignorance towards their clan and mine – and the clear difference, you are not of any clan.” But where was she from? “Where do you come from?” He asked her. “Maybe I can find a reason why you are being hunted. I know them. They hunt me, too.”
Roma Bragg
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Post by ash on Mar 1, 2017 18:03:17 GMT
His people killed her parents. He could believe that. But why? Why would they attack a single town? There had to be a bigger purpose to it than that. Fear. Maybe it was all about fear and dominance. Maybe it was a quiet, yet kind of effective way to undermine them all. It was the only theory that made sense to him right now. It was the only thing he could imagine happening there. It was also the only reason why he could tell her for sure, that he would not kill her.
“Like I said: There is no glory in killing you. You must know, you saw how my people are after killing someone for glory. Nobody is here to see. Besides I am not Azgeda anymore. I was. But I am free of those affiliations. Seriously, I have no reason to kill you. None. I’d have more reason to trade with you ore help you than to kill you. I am an opportunist.” And he would remain that until he got back home. Then he had to do politics.
Sidonia
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Post by ash on Mar 1, 2017 17:55:06 GMT
“We seem to agree on this, then.” There was no one else he would trust more from his village than him. There was no one from a lot of villages he would not trust more than this man. He was loyal. He was clever, strategic. He was no spy, but knew how much intel could hurt and how important it was. Roan knew that he should keep him close in any kind. But, out of all the people, he had not once feared going through his village during his banishment. He had not once doubted that Ragnar would turn a blind eye to a hungry banished prince trading for supplies, as long as he behaved himself. And Roan did. Every time this became his last resort.
“I want you for this position, Ragnar. The chiefs value your opinion and I do, too.” He needed him here. He needed his knowledge of their people, their loyalty to him, his mind. “I want you in the position of my highest advisor. So many people whisper in my ear every day. I want someone I can trust, someone who’s loyalty I can be absolutely sure of. And someone who, in return, can be absolutely sure of mine.”
Ragnar
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Post by ash on Feb 16, 2017 16:52:03 GMT
“Beja.” Roan said. He took his coat from her but hesitated. She was a mystery to him. She had always been a mystery to him, the stories he heard. But in person, well the stories were exceeding who she was. She was actually rather tiny. He expected someone taller. But that was a mistake he had made before. She was taller on the inside. But also tortured. She lost people. She lost someone. He didn’t know who. As he shrugged on his coat, she explained the plan. She was fighting for someone. Determination like he heard in her voice didn’t come from thing air.
“Who are you fighting for?” He asked her as he got ready to join her and the others in their plan. It was a disgrace that he had been locked up, but after everything, he understood. It was for their security. It was to ensure he was no threat. While he knew he had no intention of killing, they could not be sure. “You have intention that only comes with… someone you fight for. Are they still alive?” Or were they gone? He wondered. But did it really matter. It was her story. It was not something he wanted to intrude in. He was just curious.
blake
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Post by ash on Feb 8, 2017 18:29:12 GMT
“There’s one in my boot, too.” He supplied. “Tiny one.” But sharp and long enough to kill with if he needed it. He figured it would only serve him to tell her of it, gain her trust in that way, enough so she would free him and then be allowed their separate ways. He still had no intention of harming her. Why would he? He would owe her his life if she freed him. Maybe that should make him linger then. Because how could he repay a life debt if he didn’t even learn her name. Then again her question might make that unnecessary. It was the knives, he was not surprised. He had been allowed them – though it might technically have been against the regulations. He guessed it was one of the few perks of being royalty.
“My name is Roan.” He supplied then. No point in lying. “I used to be the prince of Azgeda. I was banished after the war, to punish my mother.” Who was leader of the crimes of Azgeda while he stood behind, sometimes stood by as a general in fights, but that was is. In the end he was punished for crimes that were never his. “And who might I owe my life to?”
Sidonia
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Post by ash on Feb 8, 2017 18:27:51 GMT
Ragnar kneeled before him, without prompt. That was quite a new one. The transition between him and his mother had not been an easy one. And it was due to the circumstances that it had been like that. Skaikrus interference with basically everything had complicated everything. But now order was a possibility, with the flame firmly in his possession. Hell, for some weird reason he almost treasured it. He would not betray wanhedas trust by letting it go easily. If they survived again, then there was no reason why there should not be more natblidas and a new commander should rise. Until then order was the best way to try and ensure survival of most – and the appointment of more advisors. One whispering in his ear was one thing, but he needed more information, more opinions to make good calls. That desire was one of the last inheritances from his father, his words still ringing in his ears, though he’d never admit to that. It was way too dangerous.
“Ragnar. It is good to see you in good health. Get up, please.” Establishing this, would be shaky, but he figured with what he had been through, he could elevate his advisors, allowing them to walk in his presences, head high, not having to fear his uncontrolled rage. He desired a certain balance – and order after him. “I imagine you already figured you are here for a reason.” And why the hell should he not figure that out? In the past none of the Azgeda royals did anything without an elaborate plan behind him, so the new king summoning someone would obviously hold motive – even though he had summoned all chiefs, he had been singled out. “We have taken control of the coalition. Polis and every clan are under my rule now. I want it to stay that way. For that I need loyal advisors. Does anyone from your village come to your mind?”
Ragnar
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Exile
Feb 8, 2017 18:26:26 GMT
Post by ash on Feb 8, 2017 18:26:26 GMT
Azgeda, the clans, they all had seen war and devastation, chaos and pain. While Azgeda held good cards, he was no fool to figure that eventually it had to end. Eventually one side had to fall. So Roan watched. Soon enough an unlikely victor seemed to come out of it. But order? He doubted it. Not with the history of Azgeda. Not with everything they had come from. The fight might be about to put to rest, but it had not ended. Two people were too alive for that to be the case. But his heart and mind very loyal to what he had been raised to be, to be loyal to: Azgeda. He was born and raised to serve Azgeda and Azgeda only, resulting in wanting Heda dead, no matter if he agreed to her methods or motives. They mattered little to his loyalty.
The prince waited for his mother, figuring even though everything looked like this fight was over, she had a plan. He could not remember a time where his mother had failed to come up with one that could benefit their people in the long run. He didn’t speak to the guards while he waited, but raised an eyebrow as his mother asked them to leave. That was new. Usually most that was discussed between them could be discussed in front of the loyal guards. And so he turned to her, listening to what she said. Feelings, weakness. So this woman they had to behead truly held the commanders heart. A foolish thing for Lexa to allow. Love in her position was too dangerous. “Like father.” He pointed out. Or that was what he had been told once back in the day. “And yet the clans seem to stand behind the girl. You have a plan, mother. You would not have summoned me if you didn’t.”
Queen Nia
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Post by ash on Feb 4, 2017 13:41:05 GMT
How many days has it been anyway? Roan couldn't exactly tell anymore. To be fair he didn't exactly care either. Things had changed so fast, he hadn't yet fully caught up with them, but at least he had caught up with the essence of it. And that meant he had to stand and strengthen his position further. He had to make sure that the loyalty of those that actually mattered laid with him, not with single people, who could usurp him if they wanted to. He could not let that happen. With what he knew, with how delicate relative peace was, he had no choice but to plot to strengthen his position. Having only a spy as advisory would ultimately not serve him.
And so he had called the chiefs to him, one in particular. He had asked for Ragnar to be brought to him, ready to offer him this role more than the others, because his loyalty, strength and tactics were unparalleled even when Roan was still just a prince. He could be trusted - if he swore loyalty to him. But his position could easily do that.
When the door entered, Roan smiled at the man brought to him. It was after all a beneficial proposal had for him. "Ragnar. You arrived fast."
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Post by ash on Feb 2, 2017 16:45:57 GMT
He could not blame her. He couldn’t blame her one bit. He knew some of Azgeda could not be trusted and, well he couldn’t advice her for trusting him. He could betray her and ultimately, if it was his life on the line, he probably would – unless he owed her his life. It looked a lot like he would owe her his life soon. Then again right now it wasn’t about survival soon. He had his life to lose and she thought she had hers to loose. But he didn’t intend to take her life. What would be the point in that.
“Why would I take your life? Even if I was a killer from Azgeda, there is no glory in killing someone without having a way of parading the kill. And I was never that kind of Azgeda warrior. You have the advantage over me. I believe in honor. If you help me, I owe you my life. For that alone I would not harm you.” But she would probably not believe him. “Look, I am helpless here, you can go, take my weapons, arm yourself with them and then you’re sure to be safe from me. And maybe you could tell me what happened that made you so distrustful.”
Sidonia
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Post by ash on Jan 24, 2017 16:31:30 GMT
Roan rarely settled, but this was a perfect place for it. Some other nomads had lived there before. It was the ruins of a once great structur. Multiple sides and a curtyard inside. There were roofs to cover people and the overgrown forest was almost completely hiding the existence of this place. Other nomads left things behind, fur, blankets containers which now held the light Roan needed. There were two other nomads on the other sides of the structure. They kept away from each other. He was Azgeda and they knew it so they avoided him, but they seemed to want to settle here for good. He knew he couldn’t. He could be killed on sight.
To his surprise someone approached the part of the building he occupied. He looked at the person and found him entirely unfamiliar, in clothing, style and appearance. That meant he was probably not one out to kill him. He was good with that. “If you want to rest up, feel free to stay here. Plenty of space for fellow travelers.” Travelers did not even remotely cover what he was, but he sure as hell would not introduce himself for who he really was – or used to be. “You look exhausted.”
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Post by ash on Jan 24, 2017 16:13:21 GMT
It felt like a trance. He was walking, but it made no sense. If someone would ask him later, he wouldn’t even be able to tell to what place he had walked to. He just walked to where he needed to be or felt like he needed to be. And now he stood there, in a private quarter where nobody could overhear the dangerous fact they had to discuss now. They were expecting a child. They were expecting a bastard heir to a throne that not even Roan currently wanted. But it was the legacy he left for his child, if he wanted to or not.
“My mother isn’t happy at her own shadow.” Roan pointed out, full of bitterness and clearly unhappy with his mother at the moment. He dislike the way she acted around him, but she was his mother, he listened, he behaved. It was his duty and it was not yet his place to change Azgeda. His time would come soon enough. “She can never find out.” And that alone would be a feat in itself. “We must… get you away somehow. And we must it seem like it was her idea. Training or something. A long training up in the north. I know the cold up north is dangerous for newborns, but I doubt we have any better place to go. We could run.”
iah
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Post by ash on Jan 19, 2017 17:20:55 GMT
The answer came easy to him actually when he heard her request. She made it horribly complicated. In other relationships, ones born out of love, there would not even be such a question. Nor such a complicated explanation around it. The king reached for her hand. “Niylah, there is no need for such explanations. I will stay with you. I am your husband. You might not have married me because of love, but I am your husband and if it would be too much for me to spend the night with you, I would have married the wrong woman.” Roan lifted her hand to kiss it gently.
“You have nothing to worry about for the rest of the night. And tomorrow I’ll make this assassination attempt public and warn off everyone who would dare to try and harm you. They must know the consequences. And I think it’s time I declare my interest in this union publicly and present you to all. How does that sound do you?” He hoped she was okay with it. Otherwise I will face them alone.”
amber4
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Post by ash on Jan 19, 2017 17:16:46 GMT
“My perspective is different from the common Azgeda warrior.” Or anyone really. Roan smiled at her, softly actually. It was rare that he managed to speak to someone who wasn’t scared, but intrigued. And he would tell her tales. “I heard how Trikru thought of us. That was all my mother and her forefathers.” With the travel ahead he knew he had quite some time to tell her everything she knew and needed to know. “Azgeda was always more cruel than other clans. It’s simply the circumstance. The skies make no difference. It kills the weakened and so Azgeda values strength. Otherwise out clan would have not survived in the north. Winter kills everyone. My ancestors took it to another level, though.”
“It soon became all about power. Power was all they wanted. My grandparents, my mother. It was all about ruling everything and power. I must admit I am not against ruling everything, but power isn’t everything. The strength they sought is not everything. My mother wanted power through destruction of everything in her path. I think it’s my fathers heritage is what makes me reconsider the violence. They called him weak. I… barely remember him, to be honest. It was always me and my mother.”
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Post by ash on Jan 12, 2017 17:52:26 GMT
It was a girl. It was a young girl, but it was her attire that struck Roan the most. It was dirty, it was torn, it was not the attire of a girl that was care for regularly by a parent. It was the little things that gave away more of her story. She was scared. She was so clearly scared of him, that the connection was easy to make. Her anger mixed in with that only made it easier to deduce what could have happened to make her that way. His clan. Or former clan. He no longer had a clan. He was banished, banished from the lands of all of them. This girl actually had the right to kill him, it was bizarre. Maybe it would help her if she did.
"I am not." He said, and he meant it. He had only killed a few people, most of them in self defense. His position in the last war made him far away from becoming a killer, a survivor, yes, but he never killed, unless it was in a war, under duress. He was never involved in raiding. "You think I'm Azgeda! They did something to you! I'm not Azgeda. Not anymore. I'm banished. I didn't kill anyone." Hell this was the first time he was. And he hadn't killed anyone in the recent past. He had just tried to survive and that meant avoiding people. "If I was still Azgeda, would I be trapped in an Azgeda trap? I'm hiding from them, too"
Sidonia
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Post by ash on Jan 3, 2017 12:57:15 GMT
It was a soft change in the air, in the way the woods responded to alert Roan. Someone was here. But he had to lay low. Roan was not safe with anyone. Banished he was no more than a criminal despite not having committed a crime worth banishment. Then again it wasn't like he could move at all. He came here the night before, hoping to find passage closer to where Flokru resided. He knew they were a peaceful bunch and would not kill him despite his banishment. They weren't killers. Now his own people. They would. And the proof was what he was just stuck in: An azgeda trap. He could not get out of it alone, since it held one arm immobile and it needed two arms.
The movements wasn't an animal, though. The question was if he could risk calling for help. Was it someone he could trust? Roan tried to see who or what it was. if it was someone he could ask to free him, he had to. Then he noticed it. A girl. Maybe he could really ask her. "Hey!" He called out to get her attention. "Help! Please! I'm stuck." He knew upon closer inspection he would look like a threat, but what choice did he have with his arm stuck in a trap.
Sidonia
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