[private] I sold my soul for this ~Brennen~ - Printable Version +- Beqanna (https://beqanna.com/forum) +-- Forum: OOC (https://beqanna.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=24) +--- Forum: Archive (https://beqanna.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=81) +---- Forum: Lands (https://beqanna.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=98) +----- Forum: Nerine (https://beqanna.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=91) +----- Thread: [private] I sold my soul for this ~Brennen~ (/showthread.php?tid=18946) |
I sold my soul for this ~Brennen~ - Hestia - 04-13-2018 HESTIA The devil whispered in my ear, you’ll never survive the storm @[Brennen] RE: I sold my soul for this ~Brennen~ - Brennen - 04-14-2018 hold me in this wild, wild world 'cause in your warmth I forget how cold it can be As soon as he is certain his rocky hold on Ischia will not fail if he is gone briefly, Brennen tells only a few of his new Brothers where he is headed, to briefly pause and invite a few of the most promising of the youngsters he’s surrounded himself with, and then he takes to the sky. It’s too soon to be gone for more than the minimum time – a quick flight across the bay will take them to Nerine, and it will be just as easy to reach home again as soon as they have concluded their meeting; later, when things are less tumultuous, he will have time for leisurely visits to old friends here. When Nerine unfolds beneath him, Brennen folds his wings and drops as gracefully as a thousand-pound winged creature can into the sand, decades of practice allowing him to basically land in complete stillness and control, backlegs followed quickly by forelegs and then overlarge black wings lowered towards the ground, just high enough not to drag the ebony tips in the sand. He doesn’t wait to see if either Kori or Bel had followed, trusting instead in them to keep up and follow his lead if they chose to come along. A quick scan of the landscape before him reveals Hestia already headed towards her own borders, towards the Ischians, and he calls a greeting before walking forward to meet her. “Hestia,” his gaze flicks warily to the creature behind her, uneasy at its bizarre appearance, but he says nothing; it doesn’t appear to be threatening the black Queen (at least overtly – it’s pretty threatening just in its existence) so other than staying ready to move at any moment to attack or defend, Brennen decides to ignore it for now. And even then – Brennen is always battle-ready, so to the untrained eye he will probably look as relaxed as anyone who has just mutinied and claimed a Kingdom for themselves can appear. “I hope you don’t mind, I’ve brought along some promising young diplomats. Nothing teaches like experience.” Now he glances to see if either or both have come; his own fire-and-white son, or the gold-and-white boy who has already thrown himself headlong into the life and work of Ischia and their future. To them he offers a quick little smile of approval before turning back to the Nerinian Queen. “I wanted to get back here and iron out the details of our alliance as soon as possible. I don’t like leaving anything up to chance with the way things are right now.” He folds and settles his wings against his sides, easing into a physically relaxed stance. No reason to be uncomfortable while they’re talking. “I am fully prepared to enter into a full alliance just like the ones of old – full military support, defense of each other, training together, perhaps stationing a representative in each other’s Kingdoms full-time.” He rarely does things by half-measure, and this will be no different. The bay warrior doesn’t know Hestia well but he trusts Scorch completely, and Scorch has vouched for the black lady. “I also have amongst my people, as I am sure you do also, those with different unique talents that could be of aid in different circumstances. I propose we share a list of these talents, if not exactly which individual holds them unless they become necessary, with each other, so we know exactly what kind of help to request if needed, for efficiency. For instance, I have a new grandson who can detect the telling of lies.” That is not the most interesting of his childrens’ talents, but he is sure Hestia knows he wouldn’t share the juiciest of things before an agreement is made. Hestia holds the ultimate card in that game perhaps with Djinni the mage, but that personage is known to be capricious and work ultimately to her own whims, as Brennen well knows, so in many instances it would be better to use a lesser but more specialized talent. And why should two allied Kingdoms not share such talents? He waits for Hestia to respond how she will, but also takes a moment to look at each of the boys in turn, to see if they have anything to add or questions to ask. hold me in this wild, wild world and in your heat I feel how cold it can get BRENNEN @[Belgaer], @[Trekori] no obligations to show up here but we'll say Brennen stopped on his way out to invite the boys on this diplomatic meeting if they want to come along <3 RE: I sold my soul for this ~Brennen~ - Trekori - 04-15-2018 Trekori i'm freezing, it's not winter yet Sorry for the wordsplosion. Oblivion can powerplay Kori RE: I sold my soul for this ~Brennen~ - Hestia - 04-19-2018 HESTIA The devil whispered in my ear, you’ll never survive the storm @[Brennen] @[Trekori] Sorry for the wait >< RE: I sold my soul for this ~Brennen~ - Belgaer - 04-20-2018 Belgaer A new world was dawning. The sunrise on the morning of their departure appeared to them cloaked in a thick blanket of clouds. Autumn was upon them, with the changing of the season, rains spilled almost daily now. A chill replaced the warm hug of summer, reminding them all of the trials of winter. Trials seemed to come in droves, of late. Belgaer can’t help but feel a heaviness looming over them as an unrest lingered thickly within the young stallion’s mind. Following his father, they’d left the island at the first sight of dawn to make their way up the coastline towards Nerine. Diplomacy did not sleep, it would seem, and, even though the black queen had been among them at the time of the dethroning, she’d quickly left to rejoin her people. It was their duty to go to her to discuss the terms of their alliance. Flying beside him, Brennen and Belgaer were accompanied by Trekori. He was, thankfully, a winged fellow whose glowing horn helped them see through the lingering darkness of morning. He’d been one of the first to speak on his father’s behalf. Ahead of them, Brennen led them deeper into Nerine. The stallion’s previous hesitation to leave did not show upon the confidence of his movements. With so many things remaining unclear, and the recent unrest in both Loess and Sylva – Belgaer tried to push the darkness out of his thoughts. Beqanna was changing again and he tried to remind himself that this would not be the final exchanging of power he would witness. The overthrow of Krone had cost Ischia her most loyal subjects, leaving their numbers a mere few compared to what they had been before. Brennen had to feel the sting of that betrayal. Belgaer had to admire his father. For all his losses the stallion did not allow himself to linger in that place of rejection. He pushed forward, determined to do what was right by the people that had called out his name. Finally over the shore of Nerine, he followed his bay father’s lead as he landed softly in the sand. Beside him, the sea breeze caught his mane and tossed the bronze and chestnut strands in the air. There was an urgency among them – they were all eager to return home. Gently, Brennen’s voice called out a greeting and Belgaer followed his gaze towards the blackened queen as she approached. She’d known that they would come. Although, this time, she was no alone. The leathery black child at her heels appeared more snake than horse as his eyeless gaze swept past them. For a moment, Belgaer was repulsed at the sight of the prong tailed beast – his senses instantly on alert. There was an evil that clung to the young colt, even as he stood silently beside his queenly mother. Forcing himself to look away, Belgaer focused his attention upon the two leaders as they opened the conversation between them. Words flow, and voices fill the quiet of the morning. Trekori wastes no time in ensuring that his is not forgotten. There was a new world to build and it would be better if they stood together. He observed as suggestions were traded and Hestia listened. Both kingdoms harbored great strength behind their borders and, together, they could stand nearly impenetrable. Hestia posed a question best answered by his father. Belgaer craned his neck to assess his father’s reaction. The brotherhood had, for a long time, been reserved to those born male – even though there were others who wished to infiltrate that tradition. His own sister was among those wishing to find a place among them. “I think my father will agree that it is time for archaic traditions to be set aside,” Belgaer’s offering was feeble, he knew, but it was clear what the mare wanted. Equality. “Progress must be made, and we will not achieve that by moving backwards. Already, Ischia has many talented female warriors. My little sister, could put even my own skills to shame. From the time we are able, my father devotes hours to our training – regardless of sex – so that we know how to defend ourselves, and our home, should the time ever come where it is needed.” Many fond memories lie beneath the surface of his words, and he hoped the truth of what he shared would put Hestia at ease. It would be up to his father, however, to prove that his son's confidence justified. The Prodigal Son @[Hestia] @[Brennen] @[Trekori] I reposted to fix the errors in my original reply. RE: I sold my soul for this ~Brennen~ - Brennen - 04-20-2018 hold me in this wild, wild world 'cause in your warmth I forget how cold it can be This is the part of running - and ruling - a Kingdom that he has always avoided. He had leaned hard on his reputation as a warrior of great repute, and avoided being sent into the field as a diplomat by all but his most shrewd Kings (though he had escorted no small few of the Tundra’s diplomats into uncertain situations to serve the role of silent protector, as even now he plans to send Leilan out again with Kori when they return, and has Mosrael out to watch Jesper’s). Not out of any lack of aptitude for the role of envoy, but simply because he found it better on the whole to be underestimated. Certainly it had served him well in this era, with Krone and Klaudius completely floored by the support a stallion they must have thought to be all brawn and no brains had managed to set against them. But with the ascension to the head of his order rather than his typical position at the head of their fighting forces, Brennen knows that amongst allies at least he is safe to drop the act. Hestia, he is sure, would rather have a King of Ischia who she can count on to think things through, not rely on solely their military prowess. In that vein, he considers her first response, seeing the caution and the sense in her words. Personally, he has found it safer for people to know of his own traits and be intimidated by them than to hold them in secret reserve, but he knows that even amongst his own children that is not the only opinion. Do they not guard Cagney’s secret skill fiercely, for fear of the danger a reveal of role in past events would put him in? The argument is sound, and such conversations as these are what makes allies more valuable, for the wealth of their combined minds. “Eminently sensible,” comes his quiet agreement along with a nod, and that matter is concurred upon, leaving them free to discuss a more broadly fundamental issue, and one he is already weary of addressing despite it having been not even a week since the mutiny. But, he has not spent five decades cultivating the mask of perfect stillness and patience just so he can act like a dumb warrior when the mood strikes him; not an iota of his weariness of his impatience with those like Durotan who accuse him basically as seeing women as inferior shows in his face or posture. The young men flanking him both have things to say on this score, and Brennen lets them, trusting to these two not to blunder into saying anything he can’t recover them from. They prove worthy of that trust, and when either of them glances at Brennen for affirmation he offers it with a small smile, chiming in to fill the silence only when they have finished, to give Hestia his personal words on the issue. ”Ischia and the Brotherhood will not turn away anyone willing to swear themselves to our tenants, regardless of gender or any other factor. The spirit of the Tundra is alive and well amongst our people, new and old, but we are not the Tundra.” Nothing reminds him as firmly of this as residency on a tropical island, which is as far from the Tundra as one could ever hope to get. “I believe so far the consensus on shorthand for the tenets we are formalizing for ourselves is ‘All for one and one for all’.” He adds the last with a quirk of a smile, personally pleased by the way his Brothers’ ideas for their future have aligned with his own. “But even without purposefully excluding anyone, there will be those who do not fit into our lifestyle or tenets. I think it would not be wrong if two closely allied Kingdoms to suggest to those who do not find a place amongst us that they try our sister-Kingdom first before going out into the world to look for something else.” Indeed, some have already departed with the change. Belgaer feels the loss of Krone the hardest because he had grown old enough to choose to stay and serve Ischia under her, but Brennen felt Astarael’s departure the truest, because he is unsure where he failed his second-youngest daughter. He glances at Kori, and expounds upon his idea. ”Our recruiters would also be happy to mention Nerine to anyone they’re talking to who simply isn’t showing interest in Ischia.” It’s always fun to have a little healthy competition amongst friends, Brennen especially enjoys vying with Scorch over recruits in the Field, but there’s no reason why they can’t help each other out a little when those they speak too for whatever reason aren’t interested in their primary offers. A pause, and then he moves on, thoughtful again with a tiny frown and a look of concentration. “As far as representatives go, I seem to be overflowing with Scorch’s children, but they are Ischians now and not representatives of Nerine. Likewise, I have a daughter likely to leave us for your shores soon, but as she wishes to distance herself from my shadow, Bristol will most likely pledge herself to Nerine. It seems to me that having a productive adult living within the other land full time would be a silly use of our resources; but perhaps a schedule to our visits so we stay up to date? Or some variation of foal training or exchanges like times of old.” he glances at the boys and at her, looking for input here. He is old-fashioned and would be perfectly happy with working towards sealing their alliance with shared children and blood, but this a new world and adjustments might have to be made. ”Looking towards the outside world, where does Nerine stand with the other Kingdoms? I do not wish to make any agreements elsewhere that would put us even tentatively at odds.” While he admires the very-neutral Falls of old, he knows that having alliances can make other relationships tricky. “For us, Krone and her family left to settle in Tephra, but I cannot see a King wise enough to have held his throne as long as Warrick choosing to make an enemy of us for something like our peaceful takeover. Personally, I have a fondness for Hyaline. As for the others, I know nothing of them until my other diplomats have gone and come back.” hold me in this wild, wild world and in your heat I feel how cold it can get BRENNEN RE: I sold my soul for this ~Brennen~ - Trekori - 04-21-2018 Trekori i'm freezing, it's not winter yet @[Belgaer] @[Hestia] I have no idea who goes next lol RE: I sold my soul for this ~Brennen~ - Hestia - 04-22-2018 HESTIA The devil whispered in my ear, you’ll never survive the storm @[Brennen] @[Belgaer] @[Trekori] RE: I sold my soul for this ~Brennen~ - Belgaer - 04-24-2018 Belgaer The salty land is oddly familiar to that of Ischia. Surrounded by the sea, both Nerine and the island held many similarities and it felt even more fitting that they should come together in such a time of change. Brennen does not hesitate, though Belgaer senses his father’s discomfort at spearheaded diplomatic affairs. A warrior at heart, his mind was trained for the battlefield, not for idle conversation. Effortlessly, the bay addresses the queens concern and Belgaer listens intently, his concentration only shifted by the echo of a chilling laugh within the depths of his consciousness. Instantly his eyes shift towards the slithering creature clinging close to the black of his mother. Although cloaked in shadow, the speckled chestnut sensed an oily smile upon it’s lips. Beside him, Hestia began to fidget as she tossed her mane in one agitated motion. Belgaer pitied the brave mare. Standing there now, with the empty sockets of her son upon them, he couldn’t even begin to imagine the daily torment she faced. Forcing the cackling of the furless creature out of his mind, Belgaer refocused on his father – training his mind towards the unease only he could see etched upon him. Ruling had come with many new and difficult realities. Many had fled, choosing to support Krone. Among them had been his own child, Astarael. Young still, Bel had immediately volunteered to go in search of his little sister – but he’d been needed elsewhere. Still, he could see it in his father’s eyes. He was searching for her, hoping to see the shadow of her existence amongst the sea of coarse grass. It’s in light of these recent losses that the mention of his other sister, Bristol, catches him momentarily by surprise. Admittedly, her departure from the island was inevitable and he knew he would rather see her safely under the watchful eye of Hestia than lost to the wrong sort. However, it’s the idea of a foal exchange that sets his teeth on edge. Thoughts of his newest sibling, Khaeli, fill him with revulsion at the thought of handing her off to another. Many practices of old had been strategically forgotten, this one tradition remained stubbornly retained. Still, he remains silent. Once again, Trekori does not hesitate to present himself. He shows a wisdom beyond his assigned age. Smiling Belgaer steps forward, “I will volunteer myself as one of the first to participate in Trekori’s idea of visits.” He offers an encouraging smile towards the colt before continuing. “He is not wrong to suggest that combining forces could be of great benefit. Not only would we be assisting each other in this necessary task, but there is strength in numbers.” Neither leader could argue the fact that protecting each other was the highest priority of their union. Their survival could depend entirely upon the other and the conditions of their alliance. At the mention of Sylva, however, Belgaer bristles. There was a darkness that enveloped the land now and the stallion feared for his sister’s safety. Though he knew she was capable of protecting herself and Jesper, a part of him had wished that he’d been allowed to accompany them. Sending a child of Brennen, a newly enthroned leader, into the clutches of an unknown leader – it felt risky and he had half a mind to travel there directly after things were settled with Nerine. “I have heard whispers,” he offered hesitantly. “And I am one to believe that we can no longer assume that Sylva will remain even a shadow of the land that we have all come to expect.” The Prodigal Son The order is: @[Brennen] @[Trekori] @[Hestia] then Bel. : Sorry this is so late. RE: I sold my soul for this ~Brennen~ - Brennen - 04-26-2018 hold me in this wild, wild world 'cause in your warmth I forget how cold it can be He likes the idea of sending Ischians and Nerinians to diplomatic events together, gives the boy a nod and tucks the idea away for later. But the pervasively uncomfortable atmosphere is beginning to affect even the ice-King, and he shifts uneasily - it’s minute, nearly invisible, but for the statuesque Brennen, it’s nearly screaming his worries. But age has given him some perspective, and so he knows that it’s not necessarily him creating this stress. His amber eyes flick briefly to settle on the strange creature, and he as a feeling that eventually, he’ll lose the ability to decide what worries and fears are and are not rational. They drift along to the topic of foal exchanges and other diplomatic events, and Brennen listens to all of them. Hestia makes some interesting contributions, and he likes them quite a lot - the idea of cross-training together is not a new idea, but one he has always enjoyed. They can become stagnant training only amongst their own, and collaboration between minds and bodies makes everyone stronger. He nods to this, and considers the foal situation for a moment. He absolutely does not miss the way his son had stiffened at the idea of his little sister Khaeli being traded in any way, and his own fear for the protection of his children has major chinks in it, aggravated by Oblivion. So, he does not commit to that. “Let us shelve the idea of a foal swap for now. I think our bond is strong, with or without it, and we have plenty of other balls in the air that will cement that bond.” Ideas like the social gatherings, and he follows that idea to another. “Stronger bonds between our youth would be the ones they forge themselves. Perhaps we organize events that socialize our youth, in particular, with one another. It wouldn’t hurt if some of our best and brightest young minds might discover they had a fondness for one another.” Neither Brennen nor Hestia has chosen an heir. The right political arrangement, backed with true affection children had established for themselves, might yield an arranged marriage of sorts that would benefit all. The details are not a matter for now. In fact, he finds himself worrying right now about the safety of his queen and his four youngest children, far in excess of the actual danger they probably are in, and he decides it’s about time to wrap it up entirely. Maybe their next meeting won’t include the black child. “We’ll look forward to hearing from you,” he says about the other Kingdoms. He is not a light either, but nor is he a dark. Brennen would have been most at home in a neutral Kingdom. He tends to protect his own with every fiber of his being, and the Brotherhood has a code they live by, but anything outside of that purview is fair game. They will make decisions with all of the facts - the ones his own diplomats bring back for him, and the decisions Hestia and the sisterhood make. The last subject - a name. He would shrug, if he could, but instead he pushes away the anxiety he is sure is not his own and flicks an apologetic smile. “So far we’ve been simply going with ‘The Brotherhood’, and it wasn’t the foremost thing on any of our minds at our first big gathering. We may end up sticking with it, for simplicity, but we’ll give it some more thought. Krakens and Tritons have been mentioned, I think, and I’m quite taken with both.” Another tendril of thought - what if Krone has come back while he is here in Nerine? - convinces Brennen it’s quite past time to go. There’s a beat where he allows for anything else Hestia has to say, and then he gives her a nod. “Forgive me, but I think we’ve been away from Ischia for far too long this early in the way of things. We’ll wait for your messenger before decided on our own relationships to Kingdoms that aren’t Nerine, and when things are perhaps a bit more settled, our diplomats can arrange the first social type gathering.” He begins to unfold his wings, though he won’t be able to do so completely with Belgaer and Trekori on either side of him, “If something changes, I or someone else will come right away.” hold me in this wild, wild world and in your heat I feel how cold it can get BRENNEN feel free to respond but I figured it was time for the boys to wrap it up for now and we can work on actually doing some of these things < 3 <3 <3 |