RP:A Challenger Appears!

Part of the The End's Not Near Arc

Summary: Reginae approaches the Uyeer King with an offer. A 'friendly' spar for the fate of Muzo, an alliance, a premium shop location in Alithrya and all the investment opportunities a crab man could want IF he wins.

Sandy Beach

Kreekitaka was ready. This meeting had him worried. Everything had him worried, recently. He was starting to think that whatever bizarre disease of the mind that had afflicted so many of his people was catching up to him, as well. So far he'd been able to stave it off, but it was persistent, constantly at the back of his mind... worrying. Which was, in itself, worrying. Thinking about it made it worse. Which is why he had been in such a foul mood of late--anger helped distract from the coldly insistent fear that refused to perish. For the purposes of showing that he wasn't afraid, he had come with only an honor guard. One uyeer on either side of him, each bearing a jawblade and a standard with his trilobite symbol. The king himself was dressed in the finest outfit he could put together, with his jawblade in its holster and his throwing drills on his sashes as well as beaded necklaces and a cape with fur trim. Just to make sure he looked extra regal, he also sat on a small makeshift throne atop Vindicator, his giant sea scorpion, and he had the animal wearing steel plate armor over top of it's carapace.

Reginae had come alone. The Uyeer kingdom had her scientist. Her...former companion. Her other allies had their homes still, and occupied them pleasantly while she roamed. Sure, there was a bed in Frostmaw or Chartsend, possibly even the avian city with the Senator. She appeared as she had the night Muzo was taken in on the beach; a male rogue in black garb with messy short black hair. The only weapon on his person was a curved, silver knife in his belt. Tucked away like a privative stick at his side. No decoration or regal air to stain his advance on the guard, the scorpion, and the king himself. “Thanks for agreeing to meet me.” He said, extending an arm to tuck against his waist. A short bow, rests his ebony locks onto his forehead until he rights his posture and sweeps it back in one, short motion. “I trust the scientist is behaving himself?” A smirk takes his lips and his stance softens.

Kreekitaka nodded, not bothering to rise in greeting. Perhaps a bit later, when necessary, but for now it felt more appropriate to remain seated. "Muzo is fine," he answered. "We as a nation are very appreciaTAH!ive of his abiyiTAH!ies. Are you conTAH!inuing your quesTAH! TAH!oo see his execution?" The question was asked in as bored a tone as he could manage, trying to show strength by displaying a lack of interest in handing him over and that he didn't think them at all capable of just taking him.

The male grins casually, waving his wrist in the air. “No, no. You misunderstand me. I don’t want to execute him.” In truth, she’s aggressively trying to do the opposite but it’s not well known. She can’t -appear- compassionate. Can’t appear to favor his position. To be lenient on his so called crime. She’d seen the lab, knew the accusations were true. “My aim is only to keep this...problem, within our societal restraints. I’m only asking for your understanding and support, one representative to another.” The title of representative is stressed, meant to add a taste of bittersweet insult. She can tell he holds himself in higher regard. Look at him, all this fluff and fan fare. “I hope we can reach terms here.”

Kreekitaka caught that bit of insult and immediately questioned what she felt she had to gain from it. Do you go to a potential future employer and make yourself sound like you have the same authority? No. He managed to refrain from puffing himself up, however. "TAH!erms, you say." He paused, dramatically. "For hanDAH!ing over my frienDAH! TAH!oo courTAH!s which finDAH! him treasonous." He rippled his paddles up and down his back, trying to make the somewhat musical sound as ominous as he could. "You HHHTHink you can buy me ouTAH!, afTAH!er I gave him promises of proTAH!ection? You are aware how worDAH! of treachery spreaDAH!s, yes?" Now he felt it appropriate to rise and dismount, pacing back and forth. "You come here an' expecTAH! me TAH!oo be so focuseDAH! on myseff? How DAH!are you."

The male dipped his head, not stepping back but allowing the Uyeer king to dismount and approach as close as he would. “I don’t want to buy or use you in any fashion. I want to come to terms, exactly what I said.” He tilts his neck to the side; first left and then right while the humanoid bones crack and pop therein. “I’d like to offer you a friendly wager. There are a lot of benefits to having allies in times like these. You have something or someone I want and I might have something comparable.” He waits, his body language relaxed, that same indifference that Kreekitaka wrangled in their first exchange. “So, let’s make a deal. A wager. A friendly...spar.” His grin grows with each continuation. “If you win, I’ll give up my quest to take Muzo into Alithryian custody. In addition, you’ll receive the alliance of our city. Armies, supplies, bodies...at your disposal. If -I- win, the Uyeer will surrender custody of Muzo to me and we will form an alliance. Access to the same things I offer; Supplies, bodies, army…” His hazel eyes cast up at Kree’s towering stature. His grin remains. “Fit the bill? Or would you like to add anything?”

Kreekitaka paused a moment to make sure he'd heard that correctly. A fight? This man--this naga, he remembered, Muzo had told him as much--wanted to fight him. Over Muzo. It was almost adorable. He rippled his paddles up and down. "You are aware of who I am, yes?" he rumbled, rolling his shoulders. "If iTAH! is a... spar... which you wanTAH!," this wouldn't count as treachery against Muzo, because he was very confident in his ability, "HHHTHen iTAH! is a spar you are going TAH!oo have. However." He leaned in close, facial crushers curling a little. "You have TAH!oo make iTAH! worHHHTH HHHTHe... 'risk'." If he'd known about air quotes, he'd have made them just there, but his tone of voice surely conveyed the idea. "Since an ayiance is on HHHTHe TAH!abo eiHHHTHer way, iTAH! seems, I am going TAH!oo require a biTAH! more, since as iTAH! is, I have more on HHHTHe yine. On paper, anyhow." Someone was feeling quite boastful, but being slightly subtle about it. "If you are in charge of AyiHHHTHrya, HHHTHen I wish for yanDAH!, TAH!ax-free, in a prime yocation for trayDAH!, if I win. An' no yimiTAH!s on my power TAH!oo invesTAH! in businesses." Oh crap. Access to the private sector! "An' one more HHHTHing--we are boHHHTH creatures of HHHTHe sea, yes? HHHTHaTAH! is where we fighTAH!. In HHHTHe waTAH!er. You may change shape however you wish. Io bring every weapon I have aTAH! my DAH!isposoh. HHHTHis way, we finDAH! ouTAH! who is besTAH! aTAH! HHHTHeir maximum."

The male tilts his head, struggling slightly to decipher portions of Kree’s demands. For the risk? If she wasn’t trying to play it cool, Reginae might have laughed. Adorable that she wants to fight for Muzo? Quite the opposite, or so she’d have everyone else believe. It’s for justice, obviously. Not because of lingering emotional attachments. He was a traitor, right? “Let me make sure I understand the terms.” The rogue inhales and exhales with exaggerated and faux annoyance. “A tax free, prime shop location and unlimited investment in other businesses.” He lofts a brow, waiting for some slight sign that he’d gotten it right so far. “AND a fight underwater that allows me to shift in any way I see fit, you to bring any weapons at your disposal to find out who is the best at their…maximum.” Again a pause to verify the information. The male’s nose scrunches with consideration. “One addendum.” He offers, index finger wagging between them. “No potions, stash of weapons you can’t carry on your…person, mounts –“ A quick glance at the scorpion. “Or involvement of other guards or sea folk. You and me.” Since the Uyeer couldn’t shift, it felt fair to let him bring what he could carry. Reginae wouldn’t be weighed down by weaponry. She could only hope it would give her an advantage against the well ‘armed’ crab man. His lips twist in another egotistic grin and he holds out his hand to Kreekitaka as if they would shake on it, big claws be damned. “I think that’s a fine agreement and I’ll sign any parchment pledge to the same.”

No potions? Understandable concern, especially since Muzo wasn't exactly an impartial judge. Kreekitaka hadn't been anticipating using a mount, since... well. Kingmaker was out there, and the gigantic creature was easily enough to win almost any fight. A stash of weapons he couldn't carry was just plain unsportsmanlike, and there was no way he was going to let someone else in on this battle. He snapped his claw open and clamped it shut lightly around the male's hand. "Marveyous. I am reaDAH!ee whenever you are. I suggesTAH! we acquire an arbitraTAH!or, who can DAH!eTAH!ermine HHHTHe winner of HHHTHe fighTAH!, yeTAH! has no inTAH!eresTAH! in HHHTHe ouTAH!come. Perhaps a mer, or maybe we oughTAH! TAH!oo have our fighTAH! in an arena--I have a very yarge conTAH!ainer which can give us pyenTAH!ee of room TAH!oo move arounDAH! in HHHTHe waTAH!er."

Reginae’s rogue form nods his head, moves his claw clamped hand in sync. He hesitates with mentioning making a spectacle of their little bout but only because Reginae is still technically in hiding. Kree knew she was a naga but not that she was…a she. Or the named Queen of Alithrya. Fighting while shifted into another’s features might be…distracting. What choice did she have? Maybe no one would be able to tell underwater? But wouldn’t word spread of a naga fighting a Uyeer? What if Jaize caught wind of it? Too late to back down now! “I’m open to suggestions on that front.” An arbitrator. It’s not like they can ask Muzo to do it! Or any of the Uyeer people (they obviously would take sides). If only she knew a mermaid. Then again…maybe she did. “I might know someone but we’ll discuss something fair the day of! An arena…” He chuckles earnestly, taking his hand back to his sides. “I like the way you think.” His index finger wags at Kree in full visible support. “It’ll be one hell of an experience either way. I’m looking forward to it, and getting my scientist back.” A bit of pre-fight chest puffing never hurt. “See you at the arena once the details are worked out.” The rogue lifts his wrist overhead and flicks it as a departing gesture. Soon, this whole problem would be solved.