EliteCommander

Ashes [EliteCommander and Vesuvius00]

"Thank you." Tarentek said sincerely, though he was in a position to which he was not accustomed. He had been a warrior all of his life, as well as a student of knowledge in respect to technology, but he had never held any influence over his people's policies. He had never advised their leaders. His experience might qualify him, but it was nevertheless a foreign situation to him.

"I have had some time to think about this enemy, about what I would say to those who I intended to warn. One option that I can see is to simply flee, to evacuate your people out of their path. You could certainly outrun their expansion. If the old Human maps hold true, there is an entire continent to the southwest that is much, much larger than our region of the Earth. The same holds true to the northwest. There is even a continent on the other side of the oceans, as far from this place as is possible to travel. Your people could flee their expansion and wait until their Empire collapses under its own weight...if they collapse at all. In all honest, this is the option that I believe is most likely to save your people's lives, and I do not believe anyone could fault you if you chose to take it. The other option I see is more dangerous, but it could just work. Our region, for as long as our history records, has never been united. Our cities rule under their own names, making and breaking alliances, but always staying independent. I would be willing to bet our enemy knows this, and is counting on it. They know they can attack us all one by one until there are none of us left, for we will all be focusing so much on ourselves to be able to help the others. If we can convince the cities of our desert, of this region, to stand together against our enemy, we might just have a force larger than this Empire is expecting. We might be able to find a way to stop them together...or, we might all fail together. The latter might be more likely than the former, but it is the only option I see that could truly stop our enemy's advance. Those are the ideas I have had, or, well, there is a third option, but I doubt you would want to take it. I certainly would not. I do not believe that the attack was entirely unforeseen. If the rumors I heard in the days before the attack are true, then the Empire sent a diplomatic envoy to our leaders to demand they willingly surrender the city and join them. If that option were presented to you, then it could save all of your lives, but you would lose the ability to govern yourselves. As I said, it is not the option I would choose." Tarentek explained. He hoped that Raldel would have some other, better idea for fighting their enemy, as gaining the cooperation of all of the cities in the area would be a monumentally difficult task, but Tarentek had not yet been able to find any alternatives.

Ashes [EliteCommander and Vesuvius00]

Tarentek had hoped that Raldel would not remain so confident in his people's ability to defend against their foe after what he had seen, and while he was not dismissive of the threat, it did seem like he would need at least some more persuading. Tarentek leaned forward and placed his hands on the table, taking on an almost somber expression. "I am reminded of a story, and old fable from my people about our earliest, tribal days. It tells of a warlord of great power who wanted the land of our people for his own. He was so confident in his military might that he would not even listen to the negotiations our tribes offered. He decided he could just take it all for himself, and by all evidence, he was right. He sent all of the warriors not protecting his city to eradicate our people, destroying every village he attacked. He seemed all but invincible. His warriors also ate the bodies of our fallen allies, not for survival, but rather intimidation. They would feast on the bodies in their camps before battle, then launch the bones into our villages from a distance before their attacks. It was a gruesome display of power, but it all ended with the sacrifice of the hero Nunkaliare and her people. She was the leader of a village that had tried to retreat from the warlord, but were trapped and cornered. There were other tribes coming to help, but they would not arrive in time. Knowing their fate, she, and all of her people, corrupted their own bodies with a slow, but deadly poison. They were all killed in battle, but when the warlord's warriors feasted on them on the eve of their next battle, they all found themselves deathly ill by the next morning. Many died, and those remaining were not in any condition to fight. When our tribes united together and retaliated, the warlord's city was conquered with relative ease. It is said that this warlord's city was Amman itself, and after the war, most of the tribes stayed united in the city, learning from the technology they left behind and setting our people on their course."

Tarentek let out a sigh and looked back up at Raldel. "I am not trying to say that this Empire will try that tactic. That story may not even be true; it could be just a simple fable, but...the lesson of it is that no defense is impenetrable, no strategy absolute. No matter the problem, no matter what challenge must be overcome, an inventive and clever soul can find the solution. With enough time, and with the numbers they have, one of them could very well discover a weakness you never considered. All it would take is one single flaw, and they could bring an end to your people. They, on the other hand, can take as many attempts as they need. I will not say it is impossible that you can protect yourselves alone, but I will say that I believe you should do anything and everything you can to push the odds as far in your favor as possible. If you accept it, I will offer any help I can."

Ashes [EliteCommander and Vesuvius00]

"Well, that is good, I suppose. I would hate to see another harmed in such a horrible way." Tarentek responded, doing his best to regain his composure. Seeing the weapon again had brought up memories he would rather have not relived, but at least he could distract himself with present issues. There was still the matter of how to respond to this looming threat, which was inevitably going to make its way west. Despite Tarentek's experiences and Raldel's scouting, there were still many questions remaining about their enemy. At the moment, they did not even have a name for this Empire. They did not know from exactly where they came, just the general direction of east. They did not know their true numbers, just that they outnumbered the defensive forces of any city in the region. Tarentek had the feeling that they were going to have to make decisions based on only a fraction of the information they needed.

"As for our enemies, there is still much we do not know about them. For instance, we cannot really know if they do not have flying races among them, at least not yet. It would not seem like they do, since they did not use them at Amman, but there could be another reason of which we are not aware. If they do have flying soldiers, then your advantage in these mountains would be diminished. And even if they do not, their strength is still considerable regardless. You may hold better than other cities, but I do not believe you can do so forever. If all other cities in this region fall to them, then they will be free to concentrate on you. They could attack your water supply, or kill off the creatures you hunt. There are plenty of ways they could attack the city indirectly. I...admit, there may be nothing that can be done to stop them, but I still believe there is a way to survive their advance." Tarentek explained.

Ashes [EliteCommander and Vesuvius00]

Tarentek listened quietly as the others discussed the implications of what the scouting mission had uncovered. He did not know of the other tribes of their people to the east, but then again, he had only been vaguely aware of the existence of their people. It did make sense that their enemy was using the conquered populations to bolster their forces, though he wondered at how they maintained loyalty. It was possible that they kept the soldiers in line through fear. After all, the families of the soldiers were likely back in their home cities, and to betray their Empire might doom them to death. Even if they had to fight against former allies, that would be a compelling way to keep their soldiers loyal, but without knowing for sure, Tarentek was hesitant to make assumptions.

The others said that there did not seem to be any flying races among them, and indeed, Tarentek had not seen any during the battle, but he did not know for sure if that was the case. If this Empire was as large as the rumors implied, then they would have to have quite a few races under their dominion. It was possible that there were simply no flying species among the attackers at Amman, though again, Tarentek could not say for certain. He was about to put forward the idea when Raldel suddenly placed one of the explosive devices which had wounded him down onto the table. Immediately, his eyes widened and he reflexively took a step back with his mouth slightly agape. After stumbling over his words for a few moments, he finally managed to respond. "That...yes, just...don't touch it! This close to us it could kill us all! Or...at least be careful how you touch it." He said once he calmed enough after his initial reaction. "That is the weapon, the one that wounded and scarred my body. That is the thing that tore apart my allies around it. If you have more of these, make sure everyone knows what they can do; tell them to put them somewhere safe. When they activate they...I'm not even sure if I know how to describe it. It is an explosion of light, sound, and destructive force. A fireball that rips to shreds anything nearby. I do think I recall seeing some of these one time in a cache of old human weapons we found, but we could not figure out what they did or how they worked. They may have been broken. I...still do not know how they work, or how to use them. I don't know if I would want to; it is a terrible weapon."

Ashes [EliteCommander and Vesuvius00]

Tarentek was relieved to hear that he could simply walk to their destination. He had worried that Onyx's people might not have built walkways to every location, since they could just fly everywhere. However, the more he thought about it, the more it made sense. If any of their people had their wings permanently injured, perhaps in battle, they would need to be able to function in the village. As well, it would be quite inconvenient if the village had to shut down completely on the rare occasions that it rained.

Eventually, the pair reached Raldel's den, where they were met by Opal, and Raldel himself. It appeared that the scouting mission had been successful, as Raldel got down to business almost immediately, describing, in detail, everything they saw. Much of what he had learned Tarentek had already witnessed for himself, but some of what he saw was news even to Tarentek. As expected, most of the fortifications on one side of the city had been demolished, but the city itself was intact, only now, it was the soldiers of this Empire in control of Amman. The citizenry still appeared to be made up mostly by Karisskan. All of the armed warriors guarding this city, however, wore the same uniform, but consisted of many different races, most of which none of them had neither seen nor heard of before. Almost all of them carried old Human weapons, or "relics," as Raldel described them, that were in notably good condition. The scouting mission also confirmed that the enemy had returned to functionality the ruined vehicles that could be found in most Human cities, and on the roads between them. In fact, Raldel and his team had witnessed more of this Empire's soldiers riding in on these vehicles from the east. The number of soldiers they saw at Amman was massive, and certainly far more than would be needed to defend the city, which did suggest that they intended to continue this expansion. Internally, Tarentek was relieved to hear that his home had not been entirely destroyed and his people were still alive, but he doubted many of the warriors, his brothers and sisters in arms, had survived the battle.

After Raldel finished his recollection of all he witnessed, Tarentek was not sure what to say, or if he should even speak up at all. The decision of what to do with his people ultimately rested with Raldel, but Tarentek still felt he could be helpful. He did, after all, have experience with their weapons and tactics. "So...now that you have seen the enemy yourself, what do you intend to do? I could give you all of the details about them that I can remember if you would like." Tarentek offered.

Ashes [EliteCommander and Vesuvius00]

Tarentek did not notice Onyx's quick departure as he dressed himself and gathered up his belongings as quickly as he could. He felt better than the day before, but still noticeably fatigued and weak. His muscles still ached from the long trek through the desert, and he was overall more sluggish than usual. However, as long as he could retain the goodwill of his hosts, then he would recover.

As Tarentek stepped out of the room, he noted that Opal suddenly stopped whatever they had been talking about, likely because of his lack of trust for outsiders. It was an attitude that concerned Tarentek, but he could not do much to change that at the moment. If Raldel's opinion changed because of his warning, then Tarentek might be able to earn some trust, but if not, then he could at least hope to be tolerated. For the moment, he was simply glad to have more water, which he immediately began to drink somewhat conservatively.

After they made their way outside, the others started to take flight, and Onyx offered to carry him to their destination. Before, Tarentek might have said yes, but now he hesitated, looking off the side of the bridge at the long drop below. In theory, the concept of flight was amazing to him, but actually being in the air and seeing the long drop beneath him made him more nervous. He still remembered vividly the fear he felt, even if only for a brief moment, when Onyx dropped him. "Oh, I, um...I know what I said about flight yesterday but...does there happen to be a walkway to his den? We can fly if we need to, but...I would really be more comfortable with my feet firmly on the ground." He asked, his demeanor embarrassed and nervous.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

I just remembered that Meesei as been carrying around Rhazii, but I've been forgetting to mention him. There is a lot to keep track of.

Ashes [EliteCommander and Vesuvius00]

Tarentek's dreams were chaotic, and not always pleasant, but his sleep was refreshingly restful. Nevertheless, it took him a few moments to come to his senses after being shaken awake. He groaned and stretched out his muscles as he sat up on the side of the bed. He was not dressed, but unlike other, mammalian races, the Karisskan's reproductive organs were contained internally, so modesty was not a worry for them, though other races were sometimes momentarily surprised.

After letting out a yawn, Tarentek finally registered Onyx' glare, and fortunately, caught its meaning. "Oh, of course. I will get dressed at once." He said simply before standing up, which made clear his comparatively large stature. He hoped that Raldel found the evidence of the attack that he had been searching for. Although, after what Tarentek witnessed, he found it incredibly likely that he would have found overwhelming proof. If the city was annexed, enemy soldiers would be occupying it in force. If it was destroyed, then the demolished city would be evidence enough.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

It was not unexpected that Sabine would have a difficult time concentrating. Meesei could recall experiencing the very same issue when her father was beginning to give her lessons in healing, but it was something that was necessary to overcome if one wanted to use restoration in a practical sense. As such, she decided to handle the lesson in much the same way as her father.

"Being able to concentrate despite any pain you are feeling is a skill that is unavoidable to learn for practical healing. It is not as much of an issue for healing others, but if you need to heal yourself, it can mean the difference between life and death. However, you do not need to overcome the problem all at once. I will numb the pain mostly, but not completely. I shall leave just enough so you can feel it, but it should not be terribly distracting." Meesei explained before reaching out to grab Sabine's wounded hand. Her hand glowed with a very faint golden light as Meesei's magic targeted her nerves, calming most of them, but leaving just enough active that Sabine could feel it. The cut itself she left untouched, though it had already stopped bleeding on its own.

"Okay, look at it again. The part of you that causes the pain, like tiny strings or spider webs spread throughout your body, some of them should be active. When they are energized and sending the sensation to your mind, they influence the magicka around them just slightly. That is what you are perceiving when you 'see' them. To calm them as I have, you have to take the disturbed magicka around the wound and make it stable. This will, in turn, numb the pain. I will warn you that it is not easy at first. To say exactly how to stabilize the magicka is not something easily put into words. You must simply feel it happening. I can say that the magicka follows the same patterns as your pain, so you may be able to use that to help. Now, give it a try. It may take a few tries, but once you have done it the first time, it becomes much easier." Meesei explained.

Star Wars - Scum and Villainy

It was not too long after Sirka'ith left the cantina with Dazan when she heard a buzz from her datapad. Pulling the device from a pouch on her bandolier, she saw she had a new message. After seeing the sender, she stopped immediately to check it. It was a simple, direct message, which was honestly the kind she preferred from employers. "Looks like we're done waiting. Bay five it is, I'm just going to stop by my ship on the way there." She said, not really caring if Dazan followed, or headed straight there.

Sirka's own ship was docked not too far from bay five, so she did not have to go far out of her way. Her ship was old, small, and perpetually close to breaking down, but it was reasonably capable of getting her from place to place. It gave her a secure place to sleep at spaceports, as she could lock it down tight. As well, it had a few smuggling compartments where she kept her less-than-legal belongings, such as the item she wanted to pick up. Her heavy blaster cannon was large and heavy enough that most species had to use it mounted on a tripod, but her strength allowed her to carry it with few issued, along with the backpack that contained its power cell. Carrying the weapon itself was, for her, equivalent to some of the heavy personal blasters made for Human-sized species, and the backpack, compared to her size, was not too much of a hindrance. Regardless, there were a few reasons she did not tend to carry it with her into cities when she did not expect to use it, but for this meeting, there was a certain kind of appearance she wanted to convey. Not to mention, if she needed to shoot the place up, it would be helpful to have it on hand. She kept it on her back alongside its power source, so she did not actively threaten anyone, but its mere presence could be passively threatening.

After gearing herself up fully, Sirka made the short walk to bay five. Stepping into the bay, she made sure that her stance was intimidating, not so much in the sense that she was wanting to kill someone at that moment, but that she was always ready to kill just in general.