RP:Dinosaurs? Really?

From HollowWiki

Part of the Rise of Larket Arc


Summary: Xzavior is really angry with Macon. He brings Sabrina with him to tell the king off and Anson follows them both to Fort Freedom. The group gets sidetracked and Macon first hears news that Kreekitaka is planning a dinosaur assault on Larket. The whole thing turns into a sort of mini war council meeting, even though two of the people in attendance are definitely not from here.


Larket Throne Room

Macon is in the perfect position to give royal audiences; sitting on Jacklin’s Throne (Parsithius’s is empty, of course). This is a part of his daily routine that he often finds mundane and it shows in his body language. The King is well armored and the stone crown of Larket sits precariously on his head while his chin rests atop an upturned palm and his elbow props his forearm up with contact with the armrest of the previous Queen’s seat of power. The thrones are flanked on each side with three Kingsguard. They are an eclectic group with only three sword and armor toting men. The other half consists of two male mages and a single bow and arrow carrying elfess. The Fury Knight himself waits for the next character or characters that have come to Fort Freedom to speak with him.


Xzavior was almost in a rush as he lead Sabrina up through the doors, the knight practically ignored as he cut his way down the halls and into the throne room. Glancing about at the place, unintentionally comparing it to Frostmaw's own throne room and finding it lacking. Then again, he has bias for the cold mountians. So it was to be expected. Looking again at the face behind the name on everyone's lips it seemed. Even faced, he looked over at Sabrina with a raised brow before moving forward and addressing him calmly, "Macon isn't it? Well, I'd say that this is a rather interesting reunion. It's been quite some time since our first meet up for schemes hasn't it." Starting off a bit brash wasn't his concern. He was just really looking for something to dig into. A small hold so that he could hammer out the truth.


Sabrina was nervous in a room this size, though not so much in the King’s presence that she thought to wear the bangles that would essentially protect them all and leave her defenseless. She was rigid in her steps, though perfect posture and upmost propriety concealed her discomfort. Her bow was slung across her form, in normal circumstances it would have surely been removed from her had it not been to the guard’s distinct amusement she carried no quiver to accompany it. With some belittling laughter and an easy dismissal, she was permitted to pass through the doors semi-armed. She was in full dress; neck to floor leathers with the Guild crest scorched into the material at her right shoulder, heeled boots that gave her those few extra inches that made her feel less small but made no difference to those who looked upon her. Her hair is pulled back in intricate elvish braids, left to hang its full length past her hips but clear from her immediate vision. Pupil-less, stark white eyes were the only apparent threat in any of her features, but even Xzavior knew this was a precaution for the safety of those around her rather than a self-defense. He knew how to read those colors, probably better than any in these lands and when he looked back at her she seemed lost for an answer and gave only one firm nod. Unsure of his query she silently scolds herself for not paying better attention to his words rather than scoping out possible exits.


Anson had been looking for something to get into since he had returned from his "vacation", yes that is what he would call his time away from the lands of Hollow. He had landed on the shore only a few hours ago and had decided to roam around Larket to see what mischief he may find. As he was walking towards some sort of bar, he saw the snake man and the healer headed up the path towards the kingdoms throne room. Curiosity made the brow of the man flicked upward, and a smirk cross his thin lips. Years of being a hunter in the woods to supply food for the farm had made the man learn how to lightly press his boots so that his footsteps wouldn't be heard, allowing him to follow them. He was alert as he slid into the room only a few meters behind the duo who obviously had matters to attend to with the man wearing such a crown. He didn't care much for the flashy ways royals carried themselves, but who was a man to judge. A few more steps had brought him closer to Sabrina where a slight whisper of "Birdy" was heard.


Macon regards the guests to the fort with the same benevolent smile he does most Larketians that come his way this time of day. He even adjusts his posture I the throne so that he isn't leaning to one side looking disinterested. That sweet half-grin fades away however as soon as Xzavior speaks up. The King makes no indication he has any idea what the Naga is speaking of and looks beyond him towards Sabrina with a questioning look that asks something like ‘What in the world have you brought me here?’ A brow is raised towards Anson when he makes his appearance moments after the healer and the freezing snake. Ignoring most everything Xzavior has said, but not ignoring the tone in which it is said, Macon finally eyes the Naga again, leaning forward and narrowing his eyes in as threatening a way someone can do that. “You have come to see The King…” The Death Knight reminds the snake just who he is speaking to, “Why?”


Xzavior had in fact looked back and was quite surprised to see that Sabrina was actually wary. Perhaps it was just him, but he didn't see any reason to be afraid. A brow raised when the avian made himself known with the whisper and smirked a bit when Sabrina instantly got on his case for it. His presence wasn't completely unknown but ignored for the most part. He had business with 'The King' as he so graciously provided. Clearing his throat so he'd get his attention off of Sabrina and back to him before meeting Macon's stare, he said with a confident look, "Well, I guess I should address the more prominent threat first before doing something reckless. You know the tailor Kreekitaka? I've heard from a rather upset person that the crab has gone power hungry and is planning on assaulting Larket with dinosaur mounts." And that would be the most outlandish thing he's said all day, but he'd rather make sure that the place was at least aware of a threat before getting kicked out.


Sabrina was on edge to begin with, such whispers on high alert probably only made matters worse. Her head snaps around to the source and thin dark brows come together in the same way a mother would in scolding a child. “What are you doing here?” Her hiss cuts through the murmurs about the room and the white falters momentarily to a brief transition of sage. Her hand is on her bow, fighting all urges to pull it from her form before deliberately finding its place in a forced casual position at her side. Echoes of recognition slowly burn out her clearly startled state as she reclaims her version of calm. Her attention is drawn to the obvious, ignoring what response Anson may have as the two males had already begun speaking. She offers Macon only an expression that begs the King here him out. Macon would have to exercise a great deal of restraint to gather the full scope of what Xzavior had to say, which meant a short practice of humility to get past what she considered ‘childish’ banter. Men did express their masculinity in ways she couldn’t even begin to understand. Her palm goes to her head, somewhat discretely. She wished he’d rehearsed his opening statement, given his word choice made him mostly sound insane. With her eyes finding Macon’s once more she expressed a certain sympathy and hoped her presence proved some sort of rational anchor to the madness that just spilled out beside her.


Anson had taken notice to the raised brow of the King, his own brow raised in return with a bit of smirk played upon his lips, "Sir" he spoke with a hint of respect playing at the cords in his throat that produced his voice. His hand raised and pushed the shaggy blonde hair away from his face, and a glare was tossed at the snake. It was clear to the human that the snake-man had distaste for him, but that would have to be different day before that was spoken upon, even though the thought made the smirk turn to that of a mad man. He had listened to the words that the snake had hissed out and blinked at the thought of the tailor who had made his best suits going power crazy, what had came of the lands since he had went away? Sabrina's reaction to his whisper made him look crossly at her. "I followed you and snake boy here, and then I hear what he just blurted out" his hand had reached up to rub the stubble that lined his jaw "So it sounds to me like that king sitting upon the throne is going to have some big meaty claws on his dinner table soon" with that Anson's attention was gone from the subjects and more toward the decor of the room.

Macon raises a brow at the information that Xzavior gives about the Crab Monster Kreekitaka and his plans to assault Larket with -Dinosaur mounts-. The King turns to look towards the nearest Kingsguard to his right and mouths those last two words incredulously, earning a shrug from the young, well built, armored man. The naga’s audience with him has certainly started out rather scattered and perhaps Sabrina is correct in thinking that Xzavior might have found better results had he practiced beforehand. Macon cannot, for the life of him, understand the reasoning behind an assault on Larket with Dino-riders from the ‘tailor’. ‘Going power hungry’ isn't quite enough to justify Larket as the target, he thinks. Frostmaw is just coming out of a civil war. Surely they're more susceptible to such an attack at this point than a city gearing up for war, if this is just a power grab as Xzavior says, that is. These gears are turning in the King’s head imperceptibly as he nods and cracks a smile towards Anson and his suggested solution of eating Kreekitaka’s hands. Sabrina receives an understanding nod from Macon before he looks upon Xzavior again and comes to the only conclusion that makes any sense to him, “So Kreekitaka ‘as joined Frostmaw then? Tha’ is… good t’know.”


Xzavior glanced back again at Anson when he made the 'snake boy' comment and narrowed his eyes at him. God that name was getting old. He understood quite well what he said and how insane he did, but at least it served to gain their attention. Always work with what you have right? When Macon spoke again, he was about to nod before hearing the comment about Frostmaw and stumbled a bit, "What? No! I'm doubting that Frostmaw would be wanting to attack so soon. Much less Larket. This is Kreek alone. He has his own people and is strong arming others into joining. Just today I ran into Valen who was being escorted by one of Kreek's men. His students were at risk so he told the crab that he'd answer in two days if he'd join or not." He hadn't yet known of the tension between Frostmaw and Larket, if in fact there was. However, it really didn't help since he had a pretty strong idea that Macon was behind such tension.


Sabrina ’s attention was stolen once more and she looks at Anson just as crossly. “Seriously what -are- you…. Nevermind.” She shakes her head and attempt to be the voice of reason. Looking to the King she starts a few times, never really grasping what to call him and probably with consequence elects to address him only as “Macon, all I can tell you, is that I was doing my rounds in Venturil with the Paladin Gregory, and we happened across Kreekitaka, injured in a very specific manner. I managed to heal him, sort of, and he was very adamant about his hunt and work with the animals of that region.” She hints to Xzaviors previous statement. “Dinosaurs.” Her concentration at keeping those walls up was failing and the paleness of her gaze was heavily invaded by a deepening minty hue. Still, relatively harmless. Macon’s conclusion that Kreekitaka had joined Frostmaw was not really a thing she had considered when she first heard of this potential threat. She was all but ready to end her report but the guilt of her omissions was hanging heavy on her conscience. “And… I may have accidentally bonded him, on an organic level… to the stone of the Catoblepas stare.” She genuinely looked guilted over what was essentially an armor plating she gifted to the potential threat. So, a stone-plated-dino-riding giant crab, was to descend on Larket with a horde of uyeer accomplices. This would truly be the stuff of legend if it didn’t sound so absurd.


Anson had caught the King's smile for his wide crack about the claws which made the man's pride soar a bit more, at least he found humor within the man. He started to pat his pockets looking for his cigarette tin, "These Dino's he is attacking with.. how does he control such wild beast" he asks to nobody directly as he locates his tin and removes a hand rolled smoke. A quick turn of his heels and a few thuds of boots falling on the stone floor led the man to a torch used for lighting the room, now he would be using it to light the earthy smelling tobacco. Xzavier had narrowed his eyes at the man, making him blow a cloud of smoke in his direction "Frostmaw is too weak to declare war again that is for sure and no matter how strong the Silver Dragon wants the mountains to be strong it will take time.. Time and resources she doesn't have at the moment" he inhaled another long drag from the cigarette. "The crab wants Larket for it's the most stabled out land at the moment.. He wants the power so he can over rise Cenril and let the seaborne rise" he muttered on to himself mainly, those months on the ship and seeing such terrors all washed over him making his skin become paler than normal. Sabrina's cross looks and tone made Anson's smirk grow upon his lips once more. "I am doing the same thing you and the snake is doing.. Warning the king of dangers" he says with a wink to the woman. "If he is working with the mountains to take Larket, then there is plotting deeper than just wanting this fine town.. We have been battling with the seaborne quite a bit lately and none of you think that it may be all tied into one?! Seaborne works with Frostmaw, tries to gain Larket, and then two of the most powerful cities lay in his claws.. enough power for his kind to rise!" coming to the end of his speech his lips pressed to the cigarette again waiting on the thoughts of others.


Macon nods idly at the mention of Valen. He has personally met the new teacher at the mages Academy. “Join him?” the king growls out the words in subtle anger. Was the Crab poaching Larketians? The Furious King will not stand for that… He hears out Xzavior and Sabrina and frowns, leaning back into the throne while raising a hand to his chin. He massages the stubble there while shaking his head slightly, “We will prepare for their coming then…” this is a default answer that he spits out so as not to remain silent for too long. It is actually more disturbing that Kreekitaka’s intended offensive is not tied to Frostmaw as the two impending conflicts cannot be dealt with in a single act of diplomacy. Anson speaks and only brings about more doubt in Macon’s mind. Once he has bought a few seconds for himself to think he assures the smoking man that, “War with Frostmaw is already upon us. They ‘ave yet t’attack likely for the reasons you say, but we are at war. Make no mistake.” The King’s slate stare shifts towards Sabrina, “The Thane of Frostmaw is here…” he points down at the floor with one finger, indicating the fort, “...as my guest for the purpose of brokering peace before bloodshed can come about. I believe tha’ I can accomplish tha’.” He addresses all three of them now with a single question. “Do you believe tha’ Kreekitaka can be convinced to call off his attack? Or must We prepare for two conflicts?” as always his confidence in Larket’s might (which Sabrina has seen on display before) is unwavering, and he makes no indication that a stone, dinosaur riding Crab has any chance in hell of taking this city.


Xzavior was nearly ready to hit the man behind him for suggesting that Frostmaw would try anything so daft as attacking Larket. For any reason and definitely for the fact that The Silver wouldn't let even her allies stoop so low as to do such a thing to gain soldiers. He was more then happy, ironically, to hear that Macon didn't completely believe it. "As much as I'd like to say yes, the guy's a literal wild card. But two conflicts?" He stopped mid sentence and his satisfaction swept away when he heard that he was holding Josleen hostage, "Now, I wonder where I've heard that before? Right! When Gevurah held Emilia hostage. You understand that that hardly works right? Frostmaw is bound to make a move to try to get her back one way or another, and what's all this about making out Frostmaw to be the one to first light the flame?" (of war) He was done with it. When had any of this started? Why hadn't he heard sooner? God he wished he had more to work with. "And why would someone working towards peace need to hold someone against their will to gain it instead of sitting down with them?"


Sabrina had been a ‘guest’ before. She didn’t like the sound of Josleen being accommodated here and she was never any good at hiding her emotions on the occasion one or another fluttered to the surface. She ignores Macon’s question to address her own agenda. “May I suggest the House of Ara to care for Lady Josleen for the time being.” And to quote his own words. “To ensure the brokerage of peace… on truly neutral ground.” She takes a step forward, she was almost demanding it but propriety stayed her enthusiasm just enough to not make her seem too eager. She didn’t know what was going on in detail, just that it was her job to make certain as few lives were lost as possible. On both sides. And as Macon well knew, her allegiances were to the living no matter what colors they hailed by. It wasn’t enough to know Josleen was here, the Elfess needed to see her and know the care in which she was receiving. Then, out of nowhere, she snaps at Xzavior the beginning common, “The King made no mention of hostages, hold your tongue.” The latter a very old dialect from her homeland made only so he could understand, but the tone was undeniably threatening. Her eyes had grown vividly dark, whatever she said to him, she meant it.


Anson stepped forward once more only to bend at his waist towards the king. "I don't know what the mountains are planning for I am a man of the island.." he says dipping his head once more. "But I agree with the man when he says Kree is a wild card, and this card could put us all on the loosing side" taking a full stance once more he runs his eyes over the two that he had followed here. " I am just saying IF they do align.. IF they do succeed in the plans that are at play.. We will all be dead. The seaborne will take over Cenril, Frostmaw will be safe in there winter hell hole, and Larket will be under a meaty claw of a power crazed man.." taking the last draw from his tobacco he stubs it out with his fingers. "Hostage or no hostage, war or no war, remember there is always a wild card threw into a hand of poker" with that the man turned on his boots and headed towards the exit. "Until next time Snake-boy, Birdy, and King"


Macon turns a stone glare towards Xzavior both at the mention of The High Priestess of The God of Death and at the accusation that he is holding Frostmaw’s Thane hostage. Sabrina beats him to the punch though of reprimanding him for thinking so poorly of The King’s negotiation tactics. “Indeed. I ‘ave not taken a hostage. Josleen is free to come and go from The Fort as she pleases, including returning to Frostmaw. She is no longer considered a fugitive in this city as an accomplice of the traitor Kelovath.” In all honesty The House of Ara would be a downgrade for the bard given the luxury she is staying in as a guest of the King. Macon chooses not to defend himself against Xzavior’s implication that Larket is at fault for the war with Frostmaw, however disagreeable that accusation is, a King does not explain himself. The facts speak for themselves here and rehashing them would be a waste of Larket’s ruler’s time. Anson’s warning is accepted and he is seen off with a Regal nod. “We will prepare for the ‘wild card’ if his attack is inevitable. I will speak with Valen myself…” His expression is grim as he eyes Sabrina. He knows Larket can defend against one or the other, Dino riders, or the freezing army. Both is troublesome. He lets Sabrina and Xzavior know that Josleen has been assisting at the clinic at the fort and that she has chosen to stay in hopes that Kelovath can be recaptured and made to confess to his crimes so that Hildegarde would be more inclined to peace when advised towards it.


Xzavior grit his teeth as Macon continued talking as though there was nothing wrong. For one, he firmly stood by the idea that taking hostages was a poor tactic, and that Macon was out for his own gain. With probable cause. Having met the man before in the underdark and having the Priestess even call him by name. Perhaps, though. It was better to address him with less eyes upon him and judging him as a fool. However, he felt more secure about his position against the king when he failed to mention anything about the fact that Frostmaw could not have been the first to start any of this. It just failed to seem likely unless Macon did something to cause them to want to. And the fact that Macon still talked to him the same was displeasing as well. Without having come straight out and said he thought Macon had done all of this, it was pretty clear that Xzavior didn't trust Macon one bit. Nor his saying that Josleen was 'free to come and go.' But, there wasn't anything he could do at the moment. With a tsk, he turned and went to leave the keep himself without a word. Sometimes he hated this sort of thing.


Sabrina watched Anson go. If anyone ever carried a nonbiased voice of reason it was him. If only he wasn’t so infuriating; at very least, he could have backed her proposal before the King. It would seem there was no need as Macon explained in detail the conditions of Josleen’s stay. Dark eyes study his own, it was almost alien in nature with her head cast to once side as if this provided more insight to his honor. He had done nothing yet to earn this sort of evaluation; everything she had heard of him thus far had turned out to be untrue… half true at best. Her predisposition to take the word of Frostmaw over Larket was fading. If Josleen was serving at the clinic it begged the question as to why she had not been informed of any of this. For the time being she opted to still her tongue, else risk looking the fool and playing Xzavior’s part for him. It was only moment before she turned heel without another word on the subject, not waiting for dismissal from the crown-bearer. It would have been fairly obvious where she was headed, after all, since mention of that name it had been the only thing on her mind this whole time. She’d pass by Xzavior, not bothering to make eye contact or skip a step. “Are you coming?” She sensed his malice, and having been the one who brought him here she wanted to ensure there were no unfortunate events in leaving him in her wake. They would walk out together far more scornful than they entered; Xzavior at Macon, and Sabrina at Xzavior. If she had to take a side this day she could not, without doubt, admit that Frostmaw would earn her favor.