Pixies Vs. Fairies, war of the fey lords IC

[drack]

Several hours before the lights of morning began to shine, a loud crunching could be heard from the northern end of town. Trees more then twice as tall as elephants marched slowly down in a line, other trees as large as grown men clutched in their arms as staffs, swerving faintly as the larger trees swung them as if practicing something they'd long ago forgotten. Eighteen in total the treants approached, a Roc flying circles over them, lazily keeping pace with the army.

Lazily one winds a cloth about his tree before holding it high as he walks as if to allow the keener night vision of the dead to read it. the Flag itself was not terrably impressive, a black field with a dark green mucky swamp and a fallen tree. A signal for representatives to speak. Effortlessly the roc tilt's it's wing taking it slightly to the fore of the group as they continue to march towards the undead ranks.

[BelGareth]

The walking bulwarks of nature were indeed impressive, but only two minds regarded them with anything remotely related to awe or any other feeling for that matter.

The hungry eyes of thousands upon thousands of dead stared back, all gazing lifeless and slack jawed, they cared not for the impressive show of force, and only accentuated it by not moving at all, completely frozen in their death's embrace as they were before they rose to fulfill their masters will.

Above the legion of flesh and bone flew a creature of virulent death, an angel of such desiccation even the Roc had the wits to not linger near it, closer to the ground, but still above the legions flew the ghostly image of some long forgotten woman, howling in her madness.

At the very center were the minds, two distinct points of light a midst a see of darkness, as the signal is shown, a Large Dragon, moves forward, atop it sits the Dread Dark One, Tchar'Ka'Nak. It flies up, and settles before the sign of peace, the rider looks down from his mount, his armor almost covering his entire frame, only allowing you to see his chin, fleshless teeth and the green fiery eyes from their sockets through the helms eye holes.

In a voiceless grating of deathless tongues he speaks "Who am I talking to?"

[drack]

Slowly, almost cautiously the Roc circles in it's decent bringing it's rider into view. A slim man of somewhat above average height with veins weaving all about him as if to shroud him in a tapestry of nature's embrace. "So we meet again death knight." A calm and familiar voice replies. "Rumors across the wind tell my you are to make war upon the Grove, tell me these are mere exaggerations of impatient young birds, that your armies are merely passing through to be envelloped by life once more elsewhere. But tell me no lies death knight, for the dead have no need of secretes."

[BelGareth]

The deathknight lurches upward towards the Roc, somewhat surprised by it's riders presence having not expected any at all.

He waits for the Roc to come closer and listens, the Dragon paws the ground causing a small furrow in the earth.

"Indeed nature man, but you are informed incorrectly, you should listen to your little birds more carefully, my forces pulled out and withdrew, this is but an escort, a small fraction of my Legions. I have no interest in you currently, other more impertinent beings still yet live, and I will see it changed."

[drack]

"I am glad to hear of it, yet unfortuitous as it may be, one of my own has expressed an interest in your empire." Angrily the bird screeches, it's head swerving to gaze sharply upon one of the treants. "You see, our dear friend Witherwood has expressed an interest in joining your militia, and I could not help but be swayed by his arguments as he advocated the added good and security it might do the realm as a whole. They control the whole of the surrounding lands he tells me. It would allow our people to safely venture forth without fear of outsider intrusion within our so sacred grove he tells me. It would give trade rights to our champions and allow a better chance to guide our messiah he tells me. It would show good faith between out great nations and allow for more concrete terms to be settled upon he tells me, and how ever could I argue with all of that."


Man this is gonna be an odd negotiation. My present champions are all going to be merchants interested in things like monopolies on various trade goods and the like without much care for the warring of armies. =\ Ah well, it's not like the Grove isn't terribly militaristic in the first place no matter how much strength they have, so I'm fine with it. And I figure any negotiations with the Death Knight should probably begin with a gift of sorts.

[BelGareth]

The mount regards the reader carefully, listening as he spoke, slightly nodding as he did so.

"This is good news, I would like to consider this area at ends with conflict, it is tiring to consider all possibilities, at all angles all of the time. This will further both of our goals, I am in favor of this," he makes a motion and a undead orc stands forward, along with 2 units of undead "This is one of my champions, newly freed from the restrictions of life, he will act as my liaison and sign of goodwill."

Warlord Gruzzag The Black moves forward and nods to his lord, his eyes burn with a similar green fire, and anyone versed in the ways of the undead can easily tell he is a Wight, of considerable power.

[drack]

I appreciate the kindness of your offer, but it is unnecessary. This man is clearly an invaluable assets to your efforts, and the Grove is a place of peace, we have no war to demand the services of the mighty among us where the spirits tell me you ever do. Besides, Agents of the grove can freely communicate with me at any time, it is an old magic, one done through the threes, and one through which I'll trust that Witherwood could use to contact us at any time he needs to. That way you needn't even spare your lowest of servants to maintain communication. I would also seek to clarify something. Witherwood may be the leader of the people of the knotted trunk in many things, but he will not be representing the whole of the grove. You may, of course place him in any position that seems fitting to you within your own society. The Martyr grimaces. Clearly he disapproved, but he sternly refused to give it voice. Instead he raises a branch and signals for the treant with the flag to approach. "I will, of course, allow him to negotiate his terms himself. He is no slave after all."

Slowly the hulking treant advances, planting the makeshift flag solidly into the ground between strides. As he grows closer however you begin to make out lines and cracks upon his wood. True to his same the old oak looked old, and at the edges of his limbs death could already be seen. It may take tens of years for the tree to truly die, but just glancing at him you could tell, die he would. Still, there was no hint of death in his face. Weariness perhaps, but it was evident he was a fighter, or as much of one as a treant could ever be expected to be.

"I'll leave this to you then?" The Martyr asked, his voice crisp.

"Yes Martyr, I will manage."

With a magically inspired draft of air, the Roc lifted into the air, and with it's wings now beating it returned, past the line of treants.

"Please excuse him for his false urgency in all matters, I often think he makes it so to longer safeguard the invisible boundary. I take it then that you will have me?"

[BelGareth]

Gaheris frowned as he listened and watched, the pompous man was an odd mixture of a diplomatic savant, and a flippant disrespectful leader, casually throwing off an offered gift while planting his own, and then leaving without a word otherwise.

Who was he to treat the Dark Lord as such?

He was about to retaliate, to throw his 'gift' back into his ugly face, he wanted nothing more to unleash Shaerin, she was itching to rend the flesh off of the living, but he satiated the hunger that swelled, it wasn't the right time, and he needed to be the 'diplomat' right now, which meant not offending the man...it was hard, but it was something he could do. His time would come, along with everyone elses, it would just take time.

Now, he turned to the treant, how to deal with this spy.

"How exactly am I 'having' you?" he asks simply, all pretense out of the way, his tone dripped of annoyance and disdain at having been disregarded so easily by this things leader.

[drack]

The treant turns to the wraith and speaks slowly, as if finding each word before he says it. "I. have. spent. a. long. time. in. the. grove... My. whole. life. actually... It. has. been. an. interesting. time... The. slow. changing. of. the. fall. into. the. spring... Then. back. into. fall... Still. the. time. has. come. for. change... At. least. that. is. what. all. the. young. folk. seem. to. be. thinking. these. days... My. kin. and. I. as. it. happens. are. somewhat. more. reserved .then. most. but. I. have........." The treant pauses at least three times as long before finding the word. "... found. many. things. in. my. long. life. and. one. was. to. always. learn. things. yourself. rather. then. through. the. whispers. of. the. wind... And. so. I. have. come. to. learn. of. our. new. messiah... As. well. as. to. teach. him. in. turn. if. I. may..." The treant lapses into silence for a long minuet before adding in the same awkward speech "I. have. heard. it. said. you. accepted. other. leaders. among. your. nation. so. I. thought. it. a. good. notion..." Looking about the treant takes in the frowns and snarling faces of the others he adds. "Was. I. not. correct. in. my. assumption...?

[BelGareth]

1st, is he actually speaking to my wraith lieutennant, or Gaheris?
2nd, what is he referring to, the fact that I have hobgoblins and orcs in charge of places?

[drack]

First: Yes, he seems to think he's you.
Second: It can be hard to make heads or tails of rumors. He'd heard that you had rulers under your cane. Technically I suppose yes, like the hobgoblin king, but neither I nor Witherwood are familiar enough with your government to say precisely. I know more then him I suppose, but he doesn't know that. =\

[BelGareth]

Gaheris turns to regard the strange creature.

Was it actually talking to Gruzzag?

Narrowing his eyes, he peered at the old thing, he couldn't tell if he was being slighted, or confused, he mentally dismissed Gruzzag and his troops sending them back in line.

"Gruzzag is but my Lieutenant, I am Tchar'Ka'Nak the Dark One, Gaheris, Fallen Paladin, and Lord of the Dark Empire, you would be wise to talk to me instead Ancient one, for Gruzzag is an Orc of little words." He smiled inwardly, it wasn't common for Gaheris to jest, and he almost enjoyed it.

"I have certain people who do my bidding, several of them enjoy power above those who do not, what are you getting at?"

[drack]

Witherwood stares dully at the orc for a moment before turning to the lord of the dark empire. "Ah... I. Apologize. Your... Darkness..." Witherwood stares for a moment as if trying to make heads and tails of the titles before finally nodding. "Yes... Yes. you. do... I. would. like. to. be. one. among. them... It..." Witherwood slowly contemplates why it was he wanted to be one of them. "It. offers. me. the. chance. to..." Struggling with the odd language he continues, substituting emphasis for words missing from the humanoid language. "see. you... You. oppose. my. actions...?"

[BelGareth]

From atop Serathis Gaheris turned his head sideways to regard the Treant.

What a strange creature, he thought to himself.

He knew why these thing would want to work under him, he was sure there was some faerie magik that could communicate his actions to his aloof partner on the bird, which churned against him, but maybe, maybe he could use him, even turn him in time, how wondrous would that be? To have this thing become the thing of their doom.

He enjoyed that notion, and so too did Thanifex as he heard the little chime in his mind, the signal that it had heard something and liked it.

"Not at all Tree, you are welcome to gaze upon the Legions that will inherit the world, what would you do for me?"


How is this Mechanically going to work?

[drack]

Taking his meaning literally, witherwood walks past the undead lord to look down at his minions. Slowly he begins to think, and at last he speaks quite plainly, having slowly found his way about this language.

"I am a... traction. I command armies... Army? Armies? Army. I can lead army. Looking down..." The treant looks from side to side across the dark legion as if to emphasize what he meant. "I see few threats."

Casually the treant steps on a zombie crushing it. "Weak." Slowly he shifts his hand to point at the three that had greeted him. First he points at the orc. "Mushy after bash." Next he points at the demon. "Big rock." Pointing at the dragon he repeats himself. "Big rock." Spreading his hands over above the zombies he adds. "Bats to hide. More tree." Pointing at the ground behind him he adds "Little shiny man with bad breath shoot arrows. He scardey-hide to live." Shrugging he returns his gaze to the army. "Big though."

Shaking his head he admits. "Shiny man with bad breath not mine. Mine come though."


Not really sure where he'd fall into your government. From what I hear probably small counsel or freelancer.

Anywho, I figure I'll control him, though he'll be pretty loyal. He'll have a few secrets but who doesn't? His army will probably trickle in behind him to serve under him.

Truth be told I have yet to see any FoB combat and think it'd be fun. Also dark empire isn't exactly Fort Nox, I'm sure there'd be easier ways to spy on you if wanted to. I mean heck, I can think of three right now without thinking much. I also figure "giving" you a legion should smooth things a bit since you do, as was mentioned, surround me. =\ On all sides. =p

Ah yes, upkeep. How do you want to handle that? (I got the treants, you want to handle armies sent over?)

[BelGareth]

Gaheris frowns as the treant squashes one of his zombies.

Or would have, had he been able to.

"You see few threats, because you lack experience with this army, something I'm not sure I'm willing to concede any time soon, but we shall see."

He looks around, seemingly annoyed. "Who is this shinyman, and who else is coming?"

[drack]

The threan thinks for a moment looking down at the little dead-men. "I lack experience with this army." He replies simply.

After a moment he takes note of the second question, answering it as best he can. "Little shiny man is from a place far away where the angry man who walks without moving brought him from. The one who shoots shiny arrows. You know him?"

[BelGareth]

GAheris shakes his head again,

"No, I have little knowledge of this man, but your description intrigues me" he waves his hand and the legions turn around as one, ready to move back to the Empires lands at his will. "We have little time, I have preparations to make, will you follow me? Serathis can fly by you as we talk. I think an alliance with the Grove would be beneficial for the both of us, we have similar views in varying aspects, but others that are diametrically opposed, if we can overlook these and ferment the similarities, our nations will both prosper."


Looks like we need to make our hex map together, you want to do that in here?

Here is my own suggested map:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bdz5lBi8HzQ/U9KVYgxS8wI/AAAAAAAAFHo/cg9JE7OZUUs/w361-h362-no/DEv1.png

[drack]

The treant slowly begins plodding along with the army. "Yes, benefit us... I would like to make a few requests if you would not... be bothered by it." he finishes, having once more lost track of a word.

I don't think we need to share the same map, just coordinate the two. Plus you'll want to fit all your population centers on yours.

Anywho, Still requesting that I be on the edge of the map, but worry not, I intend to keep my nation the same and just have it bleed off the map a bit, I'll fluff it so it'll be super fun, but all the hexes touching the map will be pretty much the same. Anywho, since the road's already there, lets leave it joined. Feel free to wind it about and such, but I'll leave my hob-gob place where it is.

[BelGareth]

You realize I am only a splinter of the Dark Empire, and only have 2 settlements right?

[drack]

I thought you had a chunk of the hobs since I saw you conquering them. Also, out of curiosity, any of those others still in?

[BelGareth]

i did, but then the empire split, and who are you referring to? the old champions?

[drack]

Yeah, so shouldn't that bit still remain to you? Oh yeah, and other people, yes your champions and everyone else who split off with a chunk of your nation.

[BelGareth]

Gai hasn't chimed in on my OOC yet, which is in a PM so...guess I'm waiting to see

[drack]

I'll confess, for a few days there I considered dropping the Grove for a similarly themed god so I could help the poor chap. He has too much on his plate... Still, the awesomeness of the Grove won out over my sympathies. =)

[drack]

As the treant plods along, he begins to notice the silence stretching on. Taking this silence as consent he begins once more to use the funny "words" of these short-lived humans, for even the death of a tree is longer then that of a human. "I have heard it said that those outside the Darkened Grove prefer these... "contracts" to negotiations? Please tell me if this concern is unnecessary. I would like to propose terms both for our nations now at peace, as well as for how any conflicts between our people may play out..." The treant considers this before continuing. "While the Martyr is more concerned with the security and well being of the Darkened Grove as a whole, were we to ever fall into conflict with the dark empire I would hope that we could be civil about it. Let us agree not to slaughter each others citizens and merchants regardless of any conflicts between us." (population centers&merchants) As he passes by two particularly healthy oak trees the treant pass uproot themselves following closely behind him. "I would also like to bestow the rights to several monopolies to merchants from the grove. Namely upon fire-bat, dross-moss, and ash-bug products sold within your empire. Naturally we'd also desire peace for the term in which I serve you. In return I have convinced the Martyr, bless his everlasting soul to eternal torment, to allow those of your nation to the recently annexed hobgoblin town just to the north of us where they may conduct any diplomatic or mercantile business without fear of coming to harm so long as they do not venture into the woods. I fear that further into the woodlands, our different traditions might cause unnecessary friction. Do these terms sound permissible as a foundation for further negotiation in the future?"

[BelGareth]

Gaheris is caught off guard by the quick talking treant, his mannerisms changing suddenly and then of course the animating trees that were seemingly coming out of the woodwork.

He merely nodded to the treants words "Yes, this sounds acceptable to me, I will require a tithe of your monopolies however, for the right of selling in these lands."


This guy have a name?
Also, care for a combined OOC while we enjoy the fruits of our peace?

[drack]

The treant, caught off guard thinks a moment before asking "a thief?"


The treant is Witherwood, previously mentioned in the thread on several occasions, as well as the commander that wrote to you before the game left off.

In any case, I should clarify. Witherwood isn't particularly slow. Quite the opposite, he's rather quick so far as treants go. Throughout the thread he's been getting a hang of the language fluff-wise. Additionally Witherwood tends to prefer thinking things through, which is why he'll often lapse into silence for a few minuets mid-conversation, but the above I pulled from what the Martyr said Witherwood had suggested which had swayed the Martyr to consent in the first place, so I figured he'd have thought it through beforehand.

Anywho, sure, I'm game for combining OOCs. Truth be told the Grove has never had one. ^_^

[BelGareth]

Raising another eyebrow again Gaheris continued "No, a Tithe, a portion of the proceeds for recompense."

[drack]

The treant continues to stare at him in confusion. "I don't... understand. What is this tithe, and what purpose does it serve? I've never heard of anything of the like."

[BelGareth]

Gaheris stops Serathis, who lands surprisingly gracefully on the ground next to the treat.

He stares at the treat for a moment, all movement of the column come to a complete stop.

"You are asking for a monopoly, I am OK with that, as long as you pay me 10% of what you make, a tithe means 10%, or one tenth."

He stops talking, and begins again, but stops, choosing not to continue.

[drack]

"I... see..." the treant replies looking absolutely dumbfounded. Shaking his head slightly he begins thinking out loud. "...but how would we collect of the goods they'd harvested, and what were their profits not so easily quantified, and who would be set about collecting all this? Why would everyone want to give a set portion of their profits to us? ..." Slowly the treant stops talking, lapsing back into thought "Is this really something you do to your people... regularly?"

OOC link? ^_^

[BelGareth]

Gaheris doesn't move, but stares at witherwood.

About a minute goes by until he is ready to speak, "Let us talk about this later, at another time, perhaps someone can assist me in the negotiations, let us travel forward, I am glad to be treating with the Grove, but understand, I will be conquering neighboring countries, and do not wish to be waylayed by the Groves interactions with other people."


He makes a small motion, and Serathis pumps his great wings, and the column of undead march forward as one.


http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?363745-Dark-Empire-Grove-Co-OOC

[drack]

The treant, considering this, responds "The Grove is no one individual, it is the mass of all the living and the dead, at the end of the day I have no authority to say where they go or what they do, so I fear we may meet those who have encountered the Grove regardless." The treant rustles it's branches in a manner much akin to shrugging, which reveals a youth in a tight cloak. "Ah yes, and this is Puckeran. He's my..." The treant searches for the word before giving up. "Mortal slave to be abused until the day he dies some terrable death at the hands of my foes."

[BelGareth]

For the first time since Gaheris could recall, he smiled.

however unsettling that is for a deathknight to do, it felt odd, and opposed to his general feeling of normalcy, but the Treant made him laugh, he would enjoy the walking tree, he could tell.

"You are full of surprises tree, I like you, what did this cretin do to deserve such a fate? Or will he be raised to serve the Grove further?"

[drack]

The treant looks puzzled. "What do you mean? It is his place. It is the life he was customarily raised to, and a fate he chose of those available to him. Is that not how we all come to the positions we now stand upon?"

[BelGareth]

Gaheris frowns.

This treant was both amusing, and enraging at the same time, he wondered how anyone could be so diametrically opposed in their being, and yet be so...at peace with everything. It was infuriating.

"Why would anyone choose to do such a thing? Most living beings would not do so, most are caught up by the retainment of life, limb, and pleasures therein," he shook his head "No, any living being would shirk away from death," he looks to the boy "Are you a slave to this tree boy?"

[drack]

The boy ponders this a moment. "Slave..." He seems, if anything, ill accustomed to the word. "I've pledged my life and following unlife to the well-being of all, and that has brought me to the services of this tree. While no slave in the sense that you may consider it, one could truthfully state that I were a willing slave to his whims. I suppose one could also say that judging by the history of those pledged in such a way often die countless abhorrent deaths, but what is death truly? Are you saying you shirked from your death as well? That doesn't seem to coincide with the story the way I've heard it." The boy seems an intriguing mix of perplexed, inquisitive, talkative, and deep in thought.