~<span style="font-weight: bold"> Kahmori </span>~<br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Kitts wrote:</cite>"Sides, it was also good morale for the new recruits. After all, not losin' a single one...everyone leavin' with full bellies and in good spirits...can't get better than that!" </div></blockquote><br/><br/>Vendra peered up at Kahmori as he spoke. The second he finishes his first little speech he feels the grip Vendra had upon his wrist slip away. The security and comfort she had felt in his arms stripped away with the constant reminder that humans were food to them. Vendra backs against the city wall and returns her gaze to the floor that it had been upon nearly the three hour trip since she became a slave. “I suppose you are right” a emotionless tone upon her lips “Better to be in good spirits then without” The weight of being a slave for creatures who constantly pushed the fact that she was little more then food becoming quite the burden. A quiet sigh escaped her lips.<br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Kitts wrote:</cite> "Vanadiel? Oh? What was it like, huh?”</div></blockquote><br/><br/>It took a few moments for Vendra to respond, her thoughts focused on her situation rather then conversation. With a soft sigh she spoke “A paradise. White sandy shores, beautiful pure blue water, Green fields and lush forests as far as the eye can see. We are and always will be the smallest nation within Rel. We are a nation of priests and wizards. Each one of us devoting our skills and magic to powers higher then ourselves. You won’t find many vices in Vanadiel we are a peaceful lot” Once again Vendra returned to thought, thinking of her homeland and the beauties of it that she longed to gaze upon once again.<br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Kitts wrote:</cite>"It's been great, Drir. If you can pull yourself away from eating grass and jerking off into little glass bottles, you should come see me sometime, huh?</div></blockquote><br/><br/>Drir chuckled as he walked away. “The caravan will return in two weeks. If you can stop chasing tail long enough I’ll see you upon our return, two weeks is more then enough time to jerk off a few more vial fulls” With his left hand he offered Kahmori a backwards wave as he disappeared.<br/><br/>~<span style="font-weight: bold"> Xali </span>~<br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Xali wrote:</cite> “But I hoped that between the expertise of Vanadiel's army and the guile of her nobility, the Light of the North might at least manage to remain neutral. There is no reasoning with that man, I suppose." </div></blockquote><br/><br/>It took a moment for Vendra to snap out of thought and realize Xali was approaching. Instinctively she attempted to take a step back and further distance from the leopardess, unfortunately the large city wall upon her back prevented such an action.<span style="font-style: italic">”Why does this sadistic creature speak to me, how long must I endure this cruelty?”</span>Vendra thought with a sigh upon her lips wanting to curse her goddess. Xali had ensured Vendra’s fear with the flaunting of a digested human in her belly. Now she was attempting to speak to the priestess as if they were friends or old acquaintances.<br/><br/>“Vanadiel never fell to Caleb’s armies. Unfortunately our devotion to our crafts made Caleb lust for our numbers to fill his ranks. With the pressure of Caleb‘s armies at our doorstep we had no choice but to sign ourselves into a loose alliance. You won’t find any of Vanadiel’s priestess or mages upon the field of battle. Caleb values our knowledge and our skills to heal the wounded too much. Unfortunately I captured the eye of my first commanding officer, when I refused him…I was sent here to die. Most of the mages of Vanadiel became instructors and took on vast numbers of apprentices in Caleb’s armies. Our priests were forced to heal and tend to his wounded”<br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Xali wrote:</cite> "Knowing that you hail from the Light of the North, at least I can trust that you understand the fairness of your situation. </div></blockquote><br/><br/>If there was any less of a weight inside of Vendra’s chest she might have been resolved enough to laugh in the leopardess face at the words. “There’s very few recordings of Vanadiels nobles housing slaves” Vendra peers into Xali’s eyes, the first time she had enough courage to do so. “As for fairness…I don’t believe those the nobles had in captivity were forced to watch as their masters digested another and flaunted the fact to the them. I don’t know what your intent is leopardess. Why do you speak to me as if we were friends after ensuring my fears of you?” Vendra could only ponder what was circulating through the savages minds. They spared no expense in ensuring she knew humans were just food, now they tease her with thoughts that her life might once again be her own once she was free.<br/><br/>~<span style="font-weight: bold"> Party </span>~<br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>NocturneWolf wrote:</cite>“It is a privilege to server amongst the soldiers of Lakehaven. I hope I do not disappoint” </div></blockquote><br/><br/>Leon smiled, although quiet Alexei was formal and respectful in his greeting. “Ah, I see Drir found one of civility. You’ll do well in Lakehaven and I’m sure your politeness will be equally returned”<br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Kitts wrote:</cite>"I'm exceptionally lazy. Xali has an exceptionally nice ass. Alexei is exceptionally strange. I'd say we all have our exceptional qualities..." </div></blockquote><br/><br/>A hearty chuckle escaped Leon’s lips as Kahmori spoke. “And I see Drir found one a little too carefree. Just ensure you don’t insult or be too playful when the situation demands to be serious, you’ll do fine in Lakehaven” Leon takes a good look over Xali<span style="font-style: italic">”Although…there is truth in what he speaks”</span><br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Xali wrote:</cite> "This kitsune knows the ways of war. He struck down a fully-armored knight as large as you in a span of three breaths, and" Xali nods in Vendra's direction, "shredded the full-plate straight off that girl with his bare hands“ </div></blockquote><br/><br/>A grin curved on Leon’s lips with words that Kahmori bested a knight of his size. “Oh? Perhaps when the kitsune finds himself of free time we can spar to test the extend of his abilities in war” His look turned quickly sour as Xali mentions Vendra and is given the reason she stands shivering in practically nothing “I see. We don’t condone such treatment of prisoners. You deprive the girl of clothing and leave her in nothing but a blanket to cover herself in? Such poor treatment is frowned upon. These humans are our neighbors and will return to such when this war has ended. See to it that she is properly clothed and fed”<br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Xali wrote:</cite> "Hah! Almost forgot this stuff! Scrap metal, usable weapons, so forth </div></blockquote><br/><br/>Leon blanked for a few moments “Uh, leave that here and I’ll ensure you are compensated for it later”<br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Xali wrote:</cite> Xali bowed. "We are at your service. Bring us before Helix whenever you are ready."</div></blockquote><br/><br/>A smile returned to Leons lips. “It’s a pleasure to meet all of you, even you” Leon turned to Vendra and grasped her left hand before he placed a small kiss upon it. “You’ll soon see not all of us are savage in nature. Shall we?” Leon said as he made his way into the city gates. The city was boosting with chatter and life. Anthro’s who were once used to living day by day and catching what little food they could now flooded the markets and bartered for seemingly endless goods. Past the market tall elven styled houses lined the streets with random goods stores in between. A long cobblestone street stretched endlessly across the city. The street split in two as a man made stream flowed in the middle and provided fresh, clean drinking water for the cities inhabitants.<br/><br/>None of the city seemed even bothered that a human was present among them. The group passed three check points before they made it to the keep. The vast stone structure stretched nearly to the heavens. Upon entering the front gate the sounds of soldiers practicing their military skills filled the courtyard. Hundreds of nearly every species sparred and honed their formations. Passing the court yard and entering the main hall red silk carpets lined the floors. Tapestries bearing the wolf clans symbol hung in between beautiful stain glass windows with rose designs upon them.<br/><br/>Nearly fifteen minutes after the party marched from the city gates they arrived at Helix’s chamber. “Wait here a moment” Leon said as he knocked lightly upon the door and walked inside. The two lizard folk guards stationed at the door offered the party a polite nod and a smile. A few moments later Leon emerged “He will see you now” Leon held the door open long enough for the party to make they way inside before shutting it and making his way back down the hall.<br/><br/>“Ah, the ones I commissioned Drir to recruit” A surprisingly charming voice echoed as the party entered the room. Maps littered nearly every wall of the room. Figurines representing troop placements and tactical points present in more then a few. A wide oak desk stood at the center of the room where the voice had emanated from. The large white tiger sitting behind it stood up “It’s a pleasure to meet all of you, I am Helix the acting general in these parts” Helix said as he extended his hand in greeting. Helix was handsome beyond words, standing nearly nine feet tall. His body toned seemingly to perfection almost as if it was carved out of marble. The fur along his body pristine and well cared for. Black strips lined his barely covered body. Helix worn nothing more then a elegant lion cloth, metallic shoulder pads and a large white cape.<br/><br/><div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">Helix<br/><img alt="Image" src="http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o127/Miss_hinata/Tiger_Warrior_by_Ragnarokdragon.jpg"/></div></div></div>