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Post by YolkaEd on Dec 9, 2011 20:04:45 GMT -5
Shien chuckled. "That is an act of great trust." he noted, before he poured himself another cup of sake. "I'd say it's the perfect show of an alliance between our kingdoms... but then I'd be lying. The perfect way, if you leave your best men in our care, would be to let my best men accompany you as well."
The Six Samurai perked a bit at that. "...wait, you're saying that some of us get to go to the dragon lands?" Kamon uttered, before breaking into a wide grin. "That is wicked awesome!"
"Peace, Kamon." Yariza said, as he couldn't help but chuckle lightly. "He has not yet determined who will accompany her back to gather the envoys."
"...youth." the Grandmaster mused to himself. "It never ceases to amuse me."
"Why, you're speaking just like an old man would." the chamberlain chuckled. "Are you sure you're not ready for retirement?"
"Come off it; I'm no older than you." the Grandmaster retorted with a light chuckle of his own. It was apparent from the way Shien, the Grandmaster, Enishi, the chamberlain and Mizuho spoke with one another, that they were more than just the underlings of a warlord. Much like the Six Samurai, there seemed to be some kind of bond between them; almost like a family.
"...well, you may pick from my Six Samurai." Shien began with a smirk. "Who would you want to accompany you, while your best men stays in our castle?"
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Post by Sapphire on Dec 9, 2011 20:18:54 GMT -5
“Oh yes then this truly will be perfect” Sapphire chuckled gently, finally getting to agree with the great shogun. It was perfect, it was flawless, and not one will stand in both their ways and dare to threaten them. She gave her comrades a small glance, they would never betray her, and they had been with her even before her husband was chosen as the leader of their lands, many years ago. She has known them (At least the Armed Dragon) since she was a teenager, so they were more than just servants…they were her friends.
Her guards understood her simple stare and the bulky one took a step forward and bowed politely infront of the samurais.
“My name is Garra. I am an Armed Dragon…it will be my pleasure to serve you for the time being” he said in a powerful voice. Armed Dragons were wild and vicious dragons, using their scythes as deadly weapons, they were quite formidable opponents.
“Oh! Erm…I’m Ashal…a Red-Eyes Black Dragon. I will do my best as well!” stammered the younger dragon, while doing the same thing as his more powerful companion and bowing slightly.
Sapphire smiled “These are my best men, they are trained well, and will surely meet your every demands…they are brutal when need to, and compassionate when needed too as well”
Once she introduced her men she hummed and tilted her head to the side, almost in a childlike manner “Now who would I want to take with me? Surely any of your men will be enough”
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Post by YolkaEd on Dec 9, 2011 20:37:45 GMT -5
"...well, you have six to pick from." Shien chuckled, as he and the other samurai made a courteous bow to Sapphire's two best men.
"Indeed." the Grandmaster nodded. "Students! Six Samurai, present yourselves!" Instantly, the Six Samurai rose to their feet, as they suddenly produced weapons from seemingly out of nowhere.
"I am Zanji, the Cleaving Dawn!" Zanji introduced himself loudly, as he spun his weapon of choice, an energized naginata, about. "With my trusted weapon, I will cut down any enemy, no matter what size it is!"
"...I am Irou, the Piercing Dusk." Irou introduced himself, as he brandished a pitch-black katana. "No enemy is safe from my thrust; they shall fall, no matter where they hide."
"I am Yariza, the Direct Spire." Yariza said, as he held a spear connected to a long rope. "Throw as many enemies as you like at me; I never lose focus on my main target, no matter how far away it might be."
"I am Nisashi, the Dual Gale!" Nisashi bellowed, as he held two green swords in his hands. "I never strike just once; to ensure victory, I will always strike twice!"
"I'm Kamon, the Explosive Blaze!" Kamon laughed, as he was simply grasping several sticks of dynamite at once. "You got something you wanna get rid off? I'll blow it to smithereens!"
"I am Yaichi, the Crippling Stream." Yaichi said with a bow, as he now held an actual bow, and some arrows. "My aim is precise, and my arrows strike true; nothing remains standing once I've released my bowstring."
"...they came up with their titles for themselves." Shien mused, as he both chuckled and shrugged. "Just for fun, really."
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Post by Sapphire on Dec 9, 2011 20:48:46 GMT -5
“That’s….” Garra just stared as the Six Samurai presented themselves to his leader with…rather amusing names and poses, if he weren’t trained in courtesy he would had been bursting with laughter. He simply just settled with crossing his arms, his long spiky tail moving side to side gently.
“Geez…” Ashal sweatdropped, why couldn’t they think of something as cool as the samurais? They were always so…serious. Well his leader Sapphire had a good humor but the ones who trained them told them that there was no humor in the dragonic legion, which pretty much sucks he thought.
Sapphire’s lips formed a tiny ‘o’ as the great warriors introduced themselves to her, really…she never gotten a show like this in YEARS. She chuckled lightly closing her eyes and placing a hand over her lips to hide that devious, little laugh.
“I which MY men were as fun and entertaining as yours” she chuckled again, hearing some annoyed grumbles from her guards.
“Well like I said, any of your men are good” she eyed all six of them and lazily pointed her fingers at two. Zanji and Kamon “They will do”
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Post by YolkaEd on Dec 9, 2011 21:02:32 GMT -5
"HELL YEAH!" both Zanji and Kamon cheered, as they pumped their fists into the air; obviously, the two of them were the most psyched to see the dragon kingdom for themselves.
"...just make sure to keep Kamon away from the more hostile, fire-breathing dragons." the Grandmaster chuckled jokingly. "He is a walking safety hazard, after all."
"What? Just because I line my armor with dynamite, I'm not safe to be around?" Kamon said incredulously. "I mean, none of us smoke, or anything like that!"
"...you really do not see the irony in what you said, Kamon?" Irou sighed, as he shook his head.
"...well, I hope you two have a pleasant journey." Yariza said with a slight bow.
"And please, do not make fools out of yourself." Nisashi murmured, as he folded his arms.
"Please, when was the last time we made fools out of ourselves?" Zanji laughed.
"...would you like me to write a list?" Yaichi noted with a slight chuckle of his own.
Shien smiled. Truly, handing over the reins of the Six Samurai to this younger generation was the smart thing to do. Not that he wouldn't have minded being among the Legendary Six Samurai once more, but age had caught up to him, as much as he hated to admit it. Still... as long as he had his armor...
"So, then everything is in order, I assume?" Shien hummed, as he pressed his hands together once more.
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Post by Sapphire on Dec 9, 2011 21:15:53 GMT -5
Ashal smiled lightly as his leader made her choice. So…he and Garra will spend some time in this temple huh? He wondered what kind of neat and mystical things he will learn from the powerful samurais, it sure will be pleasant to be around here than to return to the noisy streets of his city back in the mountains.
He eyed Garra who just shrugged with a frown…which was pretty much his neutral face; he never seemed to get excited about anything at all. The Armed Dragon didn’t really mind that much that they will be staying in the warrior’s lands, this way he might learn a thing or two about their customs, especially their fighting style.
Sapphire simply chuckled at how cheerful her two selections were, and then gave the Gandmaster a teasing smile “Lord Kizan…your men will be in the best care possible. Maybe the only thing they should worry about is me…but I control my temper pretty well” she said as a joke of course.
The small woman knew that her men will do well in these strange lands; hopefully they will get to learn some foreign techniques that she later will use to her advantage. She eyed Shien and nodded slightly, her amused looks returning once again to seriousness.
“Yes I do believe everything is in order”
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Post by YolkaEd on Dec 10, 2011 9:27:55 GMT -5
"Excellent." Shien mused with a laugh, before he looked at Zanji and Kamon. "Prepare what you need for the journey."
"You got it, boss!" Kamon cackled, before he hurriedly ran out of the room. With a grin of his own, Zanji followed him.
"...well, with that said, I do believe that the meeting is adjourned." Shien mused, before he rose from his seat to give Sapphire a bow. "Thank you for taking the time to come to my abode."
"...then we should get back to work." Kizan mused, before he looked at the remaining Samurai. "All of you, return to your temple. I shall accompany you shortly."
"Yes, Grandmaster." the four of them said in unison, before they rose and walked out of the room.
"...shall I accompany you back to the temple, Kizan?" the chamberlain inquired, as he raised an eyebrow.
"If you please, Kageki." the Grandmaster nodded; chuckling to himself before he rose.
"Now, then." Enishi cut in whilst clearing his throat. "With all said and done, Shien and myself should get back to discussing what to do next."
"...allow me to escort you out." At that point, Mizuho approached Sapphire, and gave her a brief bow, before she began walking out of the room as well. Oddly enough, she was the only one out of everyone in the room who seemed grimly serious; the reason for that wasn't quite apparent.
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Post by Sapphire on Dec 10, 2011 9:39:25 GMT -5
Sapphire chuckled lightly and rose to her feet as well, giving Shien a bow of her own "It was my pleasure to come here, and let's hope it wont be my last visit"
"Mistress would this be enough for our stay?" said the serious Armed Dragon as he seemed to be carrying a small bag, his Red-Eyes companion carried one himself. Dragons don't really have much belongings, maybe a small token to remember their kingdom will suffice to stay in the temple.
"Yes. Please do as you are told, and be in your best behavior in front of your new lords...anything happening you do know were to contact me" said the dragon woman.
Her two men bowed gracefully and bid their farewells as she simply nodded and turned around to look at Mizuho.
"Why yes, thank you" she said politely while following the rather serious one out of the room.
"It must be hard...being the only woman in this group" whispered the dragoness, of course it might be...it was hard for her to lead an enormous nation full of greedy and traitorous dragons, but she has learned a lot.
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Post by YolkaEd on Dec 10, 2011 15:27:06 GMT -5
"...now, then..." Shien hummed, as he motioned for the two dragons to take a seat. "Currently, you are guests in my house. If any of you have any questions, do not be afraid to ask them. Right now, would you be interested in joining me and Enishi for a meeting?"
"Hearing the input of dragons would be an interesting way to consider our next course of action." Enishi mused, as he gave the dragons a nod. "I would be very interested in hearing your thoughts on what we're usually accustomed to."
"...then I believe that I shall take my leave." Kizan nodded, before he walked off. Kageki, true to his word, decided to follow the older man, before walking out with him.
"...now..." Humming, Shien pressed his hands together, as he took a seat again. "...you two. Are you familiar with the Dark Realm?" he asked the dragons; a curious glint in his eyes.
"...hard?" Mizuho hummed, before shaking her head. "Not at all. Compared to what I've done back in my youth, what I do now to appease my liege is nothing in comparison." Then, she glanced to the side with a sour look. "...no... there is something, which serves as nothing but a foul reminder of the past." she murmured, as she placed a hand on her own chest.
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Post by Sapphire on Dec 10, 2011 15:40:42 GMT -5
The two dragon men didn't replied inmediatly to Shiens request in joining him and simply took a seat next to the shogun.
The Armed Dragon frowned when Shien mentioned about the Dark Realm. His usually neutral expressions twisting into an angry frown, so yes he has heard of them, those vile, and disgusting creatures that inhabited what they all know as the 'Dark Realm'
"Yes. I am familiar with it, our nation has had many disputes in the past with them..." he hissed not wanting to remember what happened a few years back...with the death of their last leader.
Ashal just stared at both older men for a moment, he has heard a bit about the Dark Realm but not enough like his dragon friend, and he has yet to experience anything involving battling with them.
"You might be very familiar with our battle with the Dark World hmm? It was not very pleasant..." Garra closed his arms and stared at the table for a few seconds, a glimpse of that time was just too horrendous for him to remember...
~+~+~+~+~+~+~
Sapphire said nothing to what Mizuho said, and just stared at the middle aged woman for a moment before moving her eyes to stare down at the floor...it seemed that she was also being reminded of something very foul from her past, it was something that she has tried her hardest to forget, but it just kept haunting her...
Shaking her head rapidly she frowned not wanting to turn angsty at this moment, it wasn't the time now the place for it. "Well I must admire you then...a hard working woman"
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Post by YolkaEd on Dec 10, 2011 15:52:00 GMT -5
"Yes; I've heard the stories." Shien mused, as he closed his eyes in thought. Any warlord worth his own salt knew of the tragic defeat the dragons suffered against the forces of the Dark World's kind. "...though lately, this realm has... fascinated me." he admitted.
"Not in an 'we should ally with them' sense, but more of a curious interest in its different races." Enishi explained.
"Precisely." Shien nodded. "Not to mention, their lands are... well, for lack of a better word, bountiful." Then, he smirked a bit. "...loaded with food and resources... sounds like something we're in need of, isn't it?" He chuckled a little, as he was curious if the dragons had any idea what he was getting at.
"...coming from the ruler of the dragons, I'll take that as a compliment." Mizuho mused with a wry smile. "But do not worry for me; I am but a hand that extends to where the Great Shogun Shien wishes."
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Post by Sapphire on Dec 10, 2011 16:47:11 GMT -5
"Our nation sure has a lot of different races, the dragonkin being it's more popular residents" nodded the young Red-Eyes with a small smile. Indeed the dragons ruled all over other less powerful creatures like the winged beasts, the mountains was their territory, their domain, and they were on top of the food chain.
Garra just stared at both warrior men, and frowned slightly, he got the idea a bit of what the shogun was talking about "While we were crossing the grasslands we indeed noticed that your lands lacked much of what our own offered..."
The Armed Dragon chuckled amusingly "You want us to gather large quantities of provisions. Or could it be that you are in the process of investigating the whereabouts of the Dark Realm, and need our resources..?"
~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~
"I do wish my people were as noble, and as trustworthy as your kind..." whispered the blue eyed woman before humming lightly "Now I wonder if your companions are ready for the trip? It is quite a long one"
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Post by YolkaEd on Dec 10, 2011 17:41:22 GMT -5
"...sort of." Shien mused. "It's true; we've planned to search for the Dark Realm for some time now; and the reports from Mizuho and her squad has given us some insight into what we can expect from that realm."
"...us asking the dragonkin to lend us resources, however, would not be beneficial for the alliance." Enishi pointed out. "As it stands, if we ask for a fraction of what you can offer, we're presented with three problems. First off, your land would lose resources your people would benefit from. Secondly, the forces of Shien would lose face if we were interpreted as begging for aid. And third... well, asking for aid is not an option for Shien's forces."
"As such," Shien mused, before he pressed his hands together, "I was thinking of a different take on things... namely, we enter the Dark Realm, and bring resources from that region to our own regions. Not only will that be crucial to ending the civil war in our realm, but it would allow both of our kingdoms to expand further."
Mizuho eyed Sapphire with a raised eyebrow, before she closed her eyes; smirking. "...for Zanji and Kamon, the length of any journey is not an issue whatsoever. As long as the journey is enjoyable, for those two, that's all they need. I'm sure that they'll be more than ready, Sapphire."
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Post by Sapphire on Dec 10, 2011 17:59:59 GMT -5
The dragons couldn't believe what Shien was proposing. Enter the Dark Realm and take their resources? While the idea might be brilliant it was incredibly risky to bring their men into the dark abyss.
"That's suicide..." the Armed Dragon said in a growling whisper, before scratching his chin iddly with a claw "But it's an interesting plan, the Dark Realm is relatively larger than our own, who knows how much resources those demons have in their claws"
"I'm sorry for asking, but why did you not mentioned this to our leader" asked Ashal placing his clawed hands together. Their leader was...a vengeful woman, and knowing what Shien had planned might make her want to participate a hundred percent, the death of her loved one was still painfulin her heart, and this would be an opportunity for her to avenge her people for what those creatures had done.
"Hm...our leader is quite a sneaky woman. You might not know it Ashal, but she already has a little spy currently investigating one of the most populated cities in the Dark Realm" chuckled Garra "We are all just waiting for the girl to return with all the information she has gathered..."
~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~
Sapphire couldn't hold back a small chuckle, and placed her hands behind her back "This journey will be enjoyable alright. They will get to see a lot of exotic creatures and items not known to this side of the realm"
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Post by YolkaEd on Dec 10, 2011 18:35:05 GMT -5
"So there is already a spy there, as we speak." Shien chuckled. "How intriguing."
"Still..." Enishi hummed, as he rubbed his chin. "...I am curious, Shien. Why did you withhold that information from their leader?"
"...well, we had finished forming the alliance, and she was intent on going to gather the envoys." Shien chuckled. "And with how enthusiastic the Six got... I suppose it slipped my mind." Then, he closed his eyes. "...but I presume that you are concerned for what she will respond with, when she hears of my idea?"
"...you might not know it, but the Samurai are well-versed in different cultures." Mizuho mused. "They've had a brilliant teacher to instruct them, after all..." Then, she looked ahead; they had reached the door leading outside. "...allow me." And she moved to push the door open; letting the sun shine into the castle...
...and outside, Sapphire would see the two Samurai, Zanji and Kamon, with some rations and the like in hand; they seemed more than ready to leave.
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