[right][h3][i][s][sub]The DK Crew[/sub][/s]
An Akeshan Alliance[/i][/h3][/right][hr]Something unusual was happening.

Somewhere in the depths of the wilderness, a small group of beasts had gathered. The proud beasts that had fled Croania so long ago, that lived in isolation away from the prying eyes of the Akeshans, and more importantly, each other. Before them, three beastmen, bound by contract to serve.

[color=2F4F4F]“And so, we are all here,”[/color] one spoke at last. A gangly figure with arms and legs much too long for the rest of its body, walking like an animal. Its goat-like head was adorned with many more horns than any animal could ever have, accompanied by two sets of eyes that never closed, not even to blink. [color=2F4F4F]“At last. The time has come. That filthy being that calls itself the Mage Queen will die.”[/color] Murmurs of approval from the others.

But as always, beasts did not like to do their own dirty work. Neither was Croania a place for them - and so, the creature’s gaze shifted downwards. Three beastmen, a fourth to come later. It would be enough. It had to be. 

[color=2F4F4F]“I trust there are no complaints?”[/color] One shook her head vigorously. She had green hair in impossible spirals, dressed in clothes that had been repaired and worn over and over until the entire thing had become patchwork. The second, a much taller man with fox-like ears, muttered something to himself, but that was all. The third, a young man with shaggy brown hair and lupine traits and his hackles raised, snorted loudly.

[color=FF4500]“None, now say what you wanna say and get on with it already,”[/color] he growled. For once his tone was low. He’d been humbled hard recently so his words lacked the usual bite to them, but this beastman was still far from a perfectly cooperative agent.

[color=2F4F4F]“What is that saying? Patience is a virtue?”[/color] it said, as slowly as it could. It chuckled, continuing at a regular pace. [color=2F4F4F]“But we are all sick of waiting. So I think I will.”[/color] The green haired girl laughed too, baring her sharp teeth.

[color=d8cfbe]“Don’t tease!”[/color]

[color=2F4F4F]“Of course not,”[/color] the goat-like creature continued. [color=2F4F4F]“Where was I? You are about to embark on a trip to Croania, by boat. It shall be... some weeks. You little ones are so slow.”[/color] It gnashed its teeth together. [color=2F4F4F]“From there you shall arrive at a port in Teglo. I have heard it is known for being filled with unsavory types, so there will be little hassle there. From there, seek out the woman named Eiris Itra. She won’t be far.”[/color]

The white-haired fox man grimaced. [color=d8cfbe]“And she looks like..?”[/color]

[color=2F4F4F]“Horns like a ram. That’s all. You’ll know when you see her.”[/color] He didn’t seem satisfied with that answer. [color=2F4F4F]“I see that we don’t have time for more questions,”[/color] it said, giving Sarnic a pointed look. [color=2F4F4F]“So now, we will just be seeing you off. We wish you luck.”[/color] More murmurs from the rest of the beasts. [color=2F4F4F]“And ask the powers that be for your success.”[/color] The green haired girl spun on her heel, staring out at the border of the forest nearby, and the view of the sea not much further. The crowd of beasts began to dissipate as the girl began to run off towards the water. The taller man was soon to follow, walking quickly after her. 

[color=FF4500]“We won’t need luck!”[/color] the wolfkin called after the larger beings as they made their way back into the depths of the forest. [color=FF4500]“Just keep your damn promises when we get back!”[/color]

He stared into the woods a few moments longer then kicked at the dirt before stalking off after the other two Akeshans. As soil gave way to sand, Sarnic snorted again and took in the view of the beach and the boat.

It was kind of small, for an ocean vessel at least.

He hopped in anyway, giving the wooden build a shove to make sure it would hold up. Then he lifted his bright eyes up to the cat and fox. [color=FF4500]“Which one of you is gonna sail this thing?”[/color]

The cat girl pointed at the other man before jumping into the boat as well. It rocked dangerously.

[color=d8cfbe]“You can’t be serious,”[/color] the fox huffed, looking around before stepping into the boat delicately. There was still space to move around, but there was no doubt that it would soon get claustrophobic. He stepped out. [color=d8cfbe]“If this is how it’s going to be, you’ll both have to do as I say before we all drown.”[/color] He gave the boat a light shove. It didn’t budge, but he didn’t look that strong either. [color=d8cfbe]“Let’s get this thing onto the water. Introductions after.”[/color]

Maybe it was the situation they’d found themselves in, or maybe it was just the wolf’s culture, but Sarnic came up to the edge of the ship and stared down at the taller man, baring his teeth in a tight grin.

[color=FF4500]“How about you do what [i]I[/i] say? If yer scared of drownin’ just make sure you follow my orders [i]and[/i] keep the boat upright!"[/color] He was clearly used to being in charge. An alpha male, if you will. The brunette stepped off the side of the vessel and landed beside the fox-man. A show of strength was in order, so Sarnic pushed on the boat until it was floating in the shallows. 

[color=FF4500]“If you wanna give input then give it, but I’m gonna have the last say. [i]Especially[/i] when we get to [i]Crowhatevera[/i].”[/color]

[color=d8cfbe]“And we haven’t even left Ashket,”[/color] the man huffed. [color=d8cfbe]“I’ll argue with you later. I [i]suggest[/i] that we get the boat in the water. And then you can sail it to Croania yourself, huh?”[/color]

Sarnic seemed to have ignored the man, pushing the boat out until it was in deep enough to get going. Once that was through he stalked right back over the fox and snatched the man's collar, dragging him a bit into the water and bodily tossing him over the side of the ship before climbing up the side himself. What you couldn't solve with words, solve with violence! Once back on the ship Sarnic shook himself free of water and gave the green haired girl a pointed look.

[color=FF4500]"Not gonna have a problem with you, am I?"[/color]

She blinked, pointing at herself. [color=d8cfbe]“Me? Jezebel. No problem at all.”[/color] She shuffled to the side as the fox sat up, almost snarling. [color=d8cfbe]“And you... Sonnola, Sarnic,”[/color] she said, pointing at each of them. [color=d8cfbe]“Father mentioned. Can we go?”[/color]

The wolf grinned. Jezebel, huh? He liked her much more than ‘Sonnola’ already. Sarnic nodded over at the fox in question, daring him to back up the vicious look on his face. If anything a quick scuffle would let Sarnic blow off some steam.

[color=FF4500]“Let’s get movin’, huh, [i]Sonnola?”[/i][/color] Sarnic said. Truth be told, he knew the bare minimum about sailing. His tribe lived deep in the forests, the most water they were used to seeing were rivers and streams, sometimes a bog. Still, he figured it was some kind of wind-powered thing. That was what a [i]sail[/i] was after all. 

[color=FF4500]“We’ll help out to get this thing ‘cross the ocean, but just [i]remember who’s in charge[/i],”[/color] he reminded, volunteering Jezebel while he was at it. The rest of the set up went surprisingly smoothly. The sooner they could set off, the sooner they would be off the damned boat...

...the instant they were moving in the right direction, Sonnola dropped to the floor, making himself comfortable. [color=d8cfbe]“We’ll be sailing in a straight line for a while. Shouldn’t be much of a problem unless the wind changes. As long as someone’s always awake, they can get me up if we start turning.”[/color] He narrowed his eyes at his companions. [color=d8cfbe]“Killing the queen of that continent? What have you two got up your sleeves, then? I don’t expect some kind of weakling to attempt something like that.”[/color]

At the stern, Sarnic had thrown most of his top layers off and sat watching the waves move behind the boat. His first time on a true sailing vessel had him a little queasy, but he was doing a great job of hiding that and appeared to be hunched and brooding instead. Still, at Sonnola’s question he looked over his shoulder at the man.

[color=FF4500]“D’you really think huntin’ some human down and killin’ ‘em and their guards is gonna be that hard?”[/color] he questioned, genuine confusion touching his voice. Of course, this was a “Queen” they were after, obviously it wouldn’t be a stroll in the park, but the wolf Akeshan wasn’t expecting to walk into a war.

[color=FF4500]“Find her, ambush her, cut her throat,”[/color] he said simply, [color=FF4500]“I don’t need any tricks to take down my prey.

....but,”[/color] he added after a moment, turning to face the other two Akeshans in full. [color=FF4500]“That fuckin’ monster did give me a contract, same as you I bet.”[/color]

[color=d8cfbe]“I suppose you’ve never lived anywhere with that kind of monarch. Neither have either of us,”[/color] Sonnola said, jerking a thumb at Jezebel, who had stuck one of her arms into the water, [color=d8cfbe]“but I did spend some time in the Court.”[/color] He shivered slightly. [color=d8cfbe]“I wouldn’t doubt that woman is surrounded by those who would rather die before we even get to touch her. This is an assassination, not a hunt. Now, tell us what you can do so we can put together some kind of plan while we’re stuck at sea for the next twenty days.”[/color]

[color=FF4500]“What did I say earlier about rememberin’ whose in charge?”[/color] Sarnic snapped, getting to his feet and stalking over to Sonnola. [color=FF4500]“If you don’t watch it yer gonna see just [i]what I can do[/i] first hand.”[/color]

Taking Sonnola’s words as a challenge wasn’t out of the ordinary for the Dimutic tribe member, and facing opposition like from his own tribe and clan members was something that might have actually brought some familiar feelings to Sarnic. Still, he really preferred fighting out problems, and that was surely what an attitude would lead to. Standing above the fox, Sarnic breathed out heavily, and mixed with his breath was a dense cloud of vapor. It leaked from his mouth and settled on the deck, and when it kept pouring out it rolled off the sides or rose into the air, creating a thick fog. Once he snapped his mouth shut, the fog stopped coming and eventually the ship would leave the clouds he generated behind. Sonnola’s lips curved into a thin smile.

[color=d8cfbe]“If that had been any less impressive, I would have thrown you off of this boat,”[/color] he said. [color=d8cfbe]“Now, I-”[/color]

[color=d8cfbe]“Done!”[/color] Jezebel chirped, pulling her arm out of the water. She dried it off with her clothes, then looked out at the sea. All around, in the water, fish had risen up to the surface, dead. Every few seconds, a new one would float up to join the rest. Jezebel picked one out, holding it by the tail. [color=d8cfbe]“Safe to eat. But too many, you can’t move. Fine after an hour.”[/color]

She gave an expectant look to her companions. [color=d8cfbe]“Poison.”[/color]

With a toothy grin of approval Sarnic approached the green haired Akeshan and took the fish off her hands, giving it a whiff then biting into it - testing the poison’s strength, perhaps? 

[color=FF4500]“Useful,”[/color] he appraised, scooping out a few more fish before they drifted by and depositing them onto the deck. How exactly the poison worked was a good question, but Sarnic was particularly interested to see if Sonnola could back up his bark.

[color=FF4500]“Okay, and what about you?”[/color]

[color=d8cfbe]“This can be a little dangerous,”[/color] he warned. [color=d8cfbe]“Especially since this boat is wooden.”[/color] He reached into the bag he had brought and pulled out a shallow bowl. It quickly began to fill with a clear liquid, but stopped soon after. [color=d8cfbe]“My range is quite large,”[/color] he said. [color=d8cfbe]“But there’s more to it. I have... acquired a second contract, after a fair amount of bargaining.”[/color] He snapped his fingers, and the liquid ignited. After a few seconds, he tossed the bowl’s contents over the side of the boat, leaving nothing behind but the unmistakable stench of alcohol. [color=d8cfbe]“I’m also a skilled archer, and I know a fair bit about poisons. Making them, that is, if any get into your blood, I’ll leave you to die. Satisfied?”[/color]

[color=FF4500]“Yeah,”[/color] Sarnic said honestly. He watched the bowl sink then turned back and tossed a poisoned fish the fox’s way. [color=FF4500]“Smells like fermented fruits. It’d be double useful if we could drink it too.”[/color]

[color=d8cfbe]“You can.”[/color] He caught the fish, giving it a wary look. [color=d8cfbe]“But you shouldn’t. Wait until we’re done, and we can have a drinking party while that entire continent dissolves into chaos.”[/color]

Jezebel didn’t hesitate. She took a large bite out of her fish, chewing with her mouth open. Sonnola looked away. [color=d8cfbe]“Cro-crowanya,”[/color] she said. [color=d8cfbe]“Croania! Is it like Ashket?”[/color]

[color=d8cfbe]“Not the wilderness, no,”[/color] the fox replied. He seemed satisfied, having seen Jezebel eat the fish, so he took a cautious bite of his own. [color=d8cfbe]“I’ve heard there isn’t nearly as much forest over there as there is here. And what, they all live in buildings? Sounds like a horrific waste of space to me. Where do they hunt?”[/color]

Sarnic grunted and plopped himself down on the deck, eating his own fish. “[color=FF4500]You said you were in the Court before. Prolly like that. What the hell was that even like anyway?”[/color]

[color=d8cfbe]“I see what you mean. It wasn’t entirely what I’ve heard Croania’s like, but apparently it’s similar. There’s a lot more buildings there than anywhere in the wilderness. More organised, but there’s still plenty of space there for good hunting.”[/color] Sonnola gave him a dark look. [color=d8cfbe]“The people there? Fanatics, the lot of them. It was all Corach this, Corach that. I’m glad I got out, if only to get dragged onto whatever this is supposed to be.”[/color] He gestured to the boat. Jezebel gave a sad look to the vehicle, and Sarnic paused in his chewing to fix the man with a strange stare.

[color=FF4500]“...? It’s a [i]boat[/i].”[/color]
[sup][right]Collab with [@Aviaire][/right][/sup]