Silently, the Desert Claimer glided through the sand. Wind blew against the long hair of the native women, each woman of which was happily chatting and Nolkonoe was going her best to ready her twelve Vultures and seven Warriors for Charlie to do some practical training with them. Holding tightly to the waist of the Chiefess…no, wait, she wanted him to call her Etasose.
Holding onto Etasose, Charlie tried his best to not slip from the saddle. Usually, she would have used her tail to help keep him secure, but since the direction they were going was dangerously close to Mr Green Waters mansion. Considering that they now knew he was getting such increases in solders each day, it wouldn’t have been stupid to assume he had increased the number of scouts in the area.
As he held to the waist of Etasose, he felt something warm press against his back. Turning, he saw Klipesia staring down at him. Almost as if she could sense his confusion, Klipesia grinned down at Charlie before speaking.
“Chiefess-wife says you need guard, so she makes me guard to protect,” Klipesia explained as she placed a hand onto the top of his head. Turning to look at Charlie, Etasose gave him a nod to reassure him.
Nodding, Charlie realised how silently and stealthily Klipesia had sneaked up on him. She would make far better of an assassin than a bodyguard with such silent movements. But then again, she may be useful at being hidden and guarding him from the shadows. Choosing to only smile at her before looking back towards the front, Charlie kept a mental note of her skill.
For a while longer they glided through the sand, a feat which probably would have taken a horse and cart a day at least to travel. Widening his eyes, Charlie stared at the sand. If Mr Green Water was getting reinforcements on the daily, then he must have a strong line of communication somewhere. A telegraph? An enchanted typier? A typewriter powered by magic and magic waves, a quick and efficient way to send messages over hundreds of miles if you know the syncing of the other persons crystal that powers the machine.
If that was the case, they could possibly buy a couple magic crystals in the town. Smiling, Charlie felt a plan begging to unfold within his forever scheming mind. Leaning back, he waved down the line of boxes and people and to Nolkonoe. Noticing him, she halted her current conversation and waved back.
“When we arrive, we will also be looking for Alchemists, I need some stuff from there!” Charlie yelled.
They were too far away for Charlie to be able to hear her, but with her heightened sense of hearing, she was able to pick up on what he was saying and return with a thumbs up. Even if he had the same hearing abilities as her, there was little possibility that he would be able to hear her. The wind blowing back her direction from how fast the Desert Claimer was moving would smother any noise she could have made.
Again, silence ensued as they rode through the desert. An hour later, they came upon a large sand dune. Just on the horizon, they saw the large, stone walls of a city. Picking up Charlie, the Chiefess moved him around to her front. Sitting him down, she past him a leather bag. Digging into the bag, Charlie pulled out the Golden badge.
“Thank you,” he said, his shoulders rising slight with the tension that started to build within him. Placing her hands onto his shoulders, the Chiefess gently pushed him back against her.
“Relax,” she muttered before releasing him. Taking in a few more deep breaths, Charlie sat up and nodded to her.
“Thanks,” he muttered.
Once again checking at all were present and all had activated the magic to hide their wolfen features, they began to move towards the city. Sitting up right with her war spear in hand, the Chiefess sat proudly just behind Charlie. The idea was they were going to have to make it out as if he was only there as an ambassador, rather than a merchant there to buy weapons.
Approaching the gate, they all stared towards the stone battlements that seemed to glare down on them. As they approached, they saw a hand rise from the battlements and wave down to them.
“Hello there! Can I help you?” the man yelled his voice showing his northern realm origins. The gleaming of rifles was highlighted under the wooden watch posts that towered over them.
“Hello! My name if Charlie Black-Quill, I am currently in service of the Chiefess Etasose!” Charlie began to yell up towards the battlements, doing his best to be demanding yet calm in his domineer. There was a moment of silence before the man responded.
“Alright, can I ask why you come here today?” the man said. Raising the golden badge, Charlie fixed his eyes onto the place he had seen the arm come from. Again, there was silence.
“Do you understand how serious the forgery of high-level Merchant Union badges is?” the man barked back down to them. Slightly shaken, but not allowing his fear to show, Charlie stood up. Now standing on the back of the Desert Clammier, he held the badge higher.
“Her majesty Etasose owns the third Region. She has come here in attempt to strengthen relations; I am acting as her ambassador as she speaks English poorly and I assume she also knows little of the imperial tongues. Turning us away could be incredibly damaging to future trading, after all, our salt mines are the reason the Union, Empire and thousands more have taken interest in her,” Charlie said, knowing the reason so many tried to seduce the Chiefess with gifts was because they wanted access to the salt mines.
Frowning, Charlie felt suddenly annoyed at the idea that there was so many vying for the Chiefess. Shaking off the feeling, he returned his mind to the task at hand. Again, there was a period of silence as who ever stood upon the battlements discussed the matter with someone. Leaning back over, Charlie could now see the face of the man for the first time.
“I’m sending someone down to have a look, trying anything and we will show you the power of a cog town!” the man yelled.
“Cog town?” Nolkonoe whispered, she had now moved up the creature and to the Chiefess’s side.
“A town that creates machines… and weapons,” Charlie answered. Along the stone battlements, there were several wooden towers. Towers which most likely held soldiers aiming God knows what kind of weaponry at them.
The iron gate and wooden doors of the wall opened. Several men, all dressed in blue and green striped armour riding large war horses trotted towards the group. In total there were about ten men. Each had a sword on their hip, as well as a pistol holster. For a moment their horses halted in their advance.
It seemed that their courage only went so far as they looked upon the pincers of the Desert Claimer. Standing as well, the Chiefess held her war spear as she took the golden badge from Charlie. Walking forward, she stood proudly before the men. Offering out the badge, she grinned as she saw the war horses try to pull back towards the safety of the city walls.
Raising her war spear, the Chiefess yelled something in her native tongue. It was obviously overdramatised, but the soldiers seemed to buy it as a look of fear spread across their faces. The Desert Claimer lowered its head, as if bowing on command of the Chiefess. Still glaring at the beast, the men seemed to relax as the Chiefess walked down the creature’s head.
“Off horse, show respect!” the Chiefess barked.
Her voice and tone were like the growl of a beast. It shook the men, and it seemed to scare the war horses even more than the Desert Claimer. For a moment there was silence as a tension surrounded the solders. Some glanced back to the gates, debating whether or not it was acceptable to retreat in such a situation.
Other men held onto their sword, expecting the Chiefess to attack. Contrast to the men who gripped their swords, some men held onto their holsters as they stared towards the archers on the back of the Desert Claimer.
“Drop your weapons!” one of the men barked towards the natives. The man at the front of the group, who seemed to be like some form of general or at least a higher-ranking soldier, raised his hand to signal for the man to be quiet.
“No, its fine. Careful, get off your horses and we can go and inspect the badge,” The man said before he began to dismount his horse. Straightening his back and locking his eyes onto the Chiefess, he dared to meet her gaze as he began to walk forward.
Taking off his round helmet, he tucked it under his arm as he bowed his head slightly to the Chiefess. Despite not knowing whether or not this woman truly was royalty, it was best to assume she was for the time being as to avoid any potential insults that he could cause. Glancing up at her, he studied her stern eyes and strong posture.
“Take,” she said, offering the badge out to him. Keeping his head lowered, he took the badge and began to examine it closely. Biting his bottom lip, he turned to look at the others. His glare and petrified eyes showed them the answer to if the badge was real.
“Sorry for doubting you your majesty, but may I ask for your name, title, and where you come from,” the man said, doing his best to hide the fear in his voice.
Turning back to Charlie, she signalled for him as well as Nolkonoe to come forward. Swiftly, the two complied as the stood by her side. Holding down his fear, Charlie’s eyes scanned over the group. For now, they seemed relaxed, but he knew this was most likely merely a ploy as they had now clicked into a negotiation mode where they could not allow themselves to be seen as weak.
Glancing to Nolkonoe, she muttered a few words while gesturing towards one of the men with her war spear. A couple chuckles and laughs came from the native women.
“Her name is Etasose, Chiefess of the now new Chiefdom that resides over the third Region,” the man nodded as Nolkonoe spoke.
“I had heard of the Desert Ghost tribe before, but to think you are now a Chiefdom… May I ask what this Chiefdom is called?” the man questioned.
“What do you think it would be? They are the Desert Ghosts, worshipers of the Desert Goddess, and their flag is a white banner with the head of a red wolf snarling painted on to it,” Charlie said, his eyes locking with that of the man.
This was a trick he had learnt in his few years as a merchant. The man was probing for possibilities that they could be lying. In other words, he wanted them to lie so that they could have some leverage over the situation. If it had turned out that they were fake royalty who had stolen a golden badge, they could have reported it and most likely have gotten hefty bonuses to their pay checks.
“Tich” the man muttered before lifting his head, “Was it the Merchant union then that awarded you with the badge? And what has happened to the Region Lord Mr Green Water?” the man continued. Glancing to the Chiefess and Nolkonoe, he took their silence as a que for him to continue.
“Mr Green Water was stripped of all titles by the Merchant Union and The Empire, this was due to him committing vast crimes against the native populous that the Union could not overlook,” Stepping forward, Charlie glared at the man.
“As for the badge, that comes from countless men of high birth status who have tiered to win over the Chiefess’s heart. If you are not blind, I think you will be able to tell that what I say is the truth,” Charlie said. Raising his head, the man took several steps towards Charlie.
“Howard Mali,” the man said. Now he stood before Charlie, their high difference was obvious. Charlie was a good six foot, but this man was without a doubt at least six five or seven feet tall.
“Excuse me,” Charlie said, his voice stern, but a slight gleam of fear in Charlie’s eyes told the man he was intimated.
“Its my name, and you would do best not to forget it. I am second in command of the fifth division of the Coin Sword Mercenary group. And may I ask one last question before I relay everything you have told me back to my boss?” he said in his harsh, thick accent. His matted black hair, firm jaw line, and strong cheek bones reminded Charlie greatly of his elder brother.
“Go ahead,” Charlie muttered. Smirking, the man walked even closer to Charlie until he towered over him.
“That Chiefess of yours, is she currently looking for another suitor? I would love to give a shot at her,” His lustful eyes turned their disgusting gaze from Charlie and towards the chest of the Chiefess.
Clenching his fist, Charlie screwed his face into a look of hatred. Before he could raise a hand to fight, a hand wrapped around his arm. Halted in his attack, he turned to see who had stopped him. The Chiefess stood with her hand wrapped around his. Staring the man in the eyes, she carefully pushed Charlie back.
Now in front of the man, she pulled back her long hair so that he could see the beauty of her face in full. Licking her lips, she moved closer to the man so that her breasts only just pressed against his chest. Seductively, she pushed her right leg forward so that it separated his two legs. Now the tops of her thigh pressed against his crouch, she moved the leg she has slipped between his legs to the right.
Stumbling lightly, his balance was regained by the Chiefess as she grabbed the neck of his armour. Pulling him closer, she licked her lips, allowing him to see her sharp wolf-like fangs. Moving even closer to the man, she placed her lips just an inch from his. This a sudden thrust, she grabbed the growing bulge in his trousers. Again, in a swift movement that not even Nolkonoe could track, the Chiefess seemingly locked lips with the man.
A scream roared from the man. Staring on with a mixture of fear and confusion, Charlie followed small drips of blood that trickled onto the sand, staining it a crimson red. The screams of the man only became louder as the Chiefess continued to hold him by his balls. Leaning back slightly, she had the man’s gaze meet hers. Leaning back a little more, she turned her gaze to Charlie, and the man’s followed as well.
“Husband,” she said with a was, bloody smile as her eyes fixed onto Charlie. A crunch was heard as the Chiefess tightened her grip on his crouch. Pushing the man back, he tripped over her right leg and tumbled onto the ground.
“Charlie, husband,” she said sternly as she spat a bit of the man’s lower lip onto the floor.
“No touch husband, no speak bad husband,” her words were broken, but the message was clear. Charlie was hers, and he worked for her.
Very, Very, VERY rough map of the third and fifth Region - made with Photoshop and I for some reason wanted to use my mouse to draw on some of numbers. Don't ask why, I don't know either.
Silently, the Desert Claimer glided through the sand. Wind blew against the long hair of the native women, each woman of which was happily chatting and Nolkonoe was going her best to ready her twelve Vultures and seven Warriors for Charlie to do some practical training with them. Holding tightly to the waist of the Chiefess…no, wait, she wanted him to call her Etasose.
Holding onto Etasose, Charlie tried his best to not slip from the saddle. Usually, she would have used her tail to help keep him secure, but since the direction they were going was dangerously close to Mr Green Waters mansion. Considering that they now knew he was getting such increases in solders each day, it wouldn’t have been stupid to assume he had increased the number of scouts in the area.
As he held to the waist of Etasose, he felt something warm press against his back. Turning, he saw Klipesia staring down at him. Almost as if she could sense his confusion, Klipesia grinned down at Charlie before speaking.
“Chiefess-wife says you need guard, so she makes me guard to protect,” Klipesia explained as she placed a hand onto the top of his head. Turning to look at Charlie, Etasose gave him a nod to reassure him.
Nodding, Charlie realised how silently and stealthily Klipesia had sneaked up on him. She would make far better of an assassin than a bodyguard with such silent movements. But then again, she may be useful at being hidden and guarding him from the shadows. Choosing to only smile at her before looking back towards the front, Charlie kept a mental note of her skill.
For a while longer they glided through the sand, a feat which probably would have taken a horse and cart a day at least to travel. Widening his eyes, Charlie stared at the sand. If Mr Green Water was getting reinforcements on the daily, then he must have a strong line of communication somewhere. A telegraph? An enchanted typier? A typewriter powered by magic and magic waves, a quick and efficient way to send messages over hundreds of miles if you know the syncing of the other persons crystal that powers the machine.
If that was the case, they could possibly buy a couple magic crystals in the town. Smiling, Charlie felt a plan begging to unfold within his forever scheming mind. Leaning back, he waved down the line of boxes and people and to Nolkonoe. Noticing him, she halted her current conversation and waved back.
“When we arrive, we will also be looking for Alchemists, I need some stuff from there!” Charlie yelled.
They were too far away for Charlie to be able to hear her, but with her heightened sense of hearing, she was able to pick up on what he was saying and return with a thumbs up. Even if he had the same hearing abilities as her, there was little possibility that he would be able to hear her. The wind blowing back her direction from how fast the Desert Claimer was moving would smother any noise she could have made.
Again, silence ensued as they rode through the desert. An hour later, they came upon a large sand dune. Just on the horizon, they saw the large, stone walls of a city. Picking up Charlie, the Chiefess moved him around to her front. Sitting him down, she past him a leather bag. Digging into the bag, Charlie pulled out the Golden badge.
“Thank you,” he said, his shoulders rising slight with the tension that started to build within him. Placing her hands onto his shoulders, the Chiefess gently pushed him back against her.
“Relax,” she muttered before releasing him. Taking in a few more deep breaths, Charlie sat up and nodded to her.
“Thanks,” he muttered.
Once again checking at all were present and all had activated the magic to hide their wolfen features, they began to move towards the city. Sitting up right with her war spear in hand, the Chiefess sat proudly just behind Charlie. The idea was they were going to have to make it out as if he was only there as an ambassador, rather than a merchant there to buy weapons.
Approaching the gate, they all stared towards the stone battlements that seemed to glare down on them. As they approached, they saw a hand rise from the battlements and wave down to them.
“Hello there! Can I help you?” the man yelled his voice showing his northern realm origins. The gleaming of rifles was highlighted under the wooden watch posts that towered over them.
“Hello! My name if Charlie Black-Quill, I am currently in service of the Chiefess Etasose!” Charlie began to yell up towards the battlements, doing his best to be demanding yet calm in his domineer. There was a moment of silence before the man responded.
“Alright, can I ask why you come here today?” the man said. Raising the golden badge, Charlie fixed his eyes onto the place he had seen the arm come from. Again, there was silence.
“Do you understand how serious the forgery of high-level Merchant Union badges is?” the man barked back down to them. Slightly shaken, but not allowing his fear to show, Charlie stood up. Now standing on the back of the Desert Clammier, he held the badge higher.
“Her majesty Etasose owns the third Region. She has come here in attempt to strengthen relations; I am acting as her ambassador as she speaks English poorly and I assume she also knows little of the imperial tongues. Turning us away could be incredibly damaging to future trading, after all, our salt mines are the reason the Union, Empire and thousands more have taken interest in her,” Charlie said, knowing the reason so many tried to seduce the Chiefess with gifts was because they wanted access to the salt mines.
Frowning, Charlie felt suddenly annoyed at the idea that there was so many vying for the Chiefess. Shaking off the feeling, he returned his mind to the task at hand. Again, there was a period of silence as who ever stood upon the battlements discussed the matter with someone. Leaning back over, Charlie could now see the face of the man for the first time.
“I’m sending someone down to have a look, trying anything and we will show you the power of a cog town!” the man yelled.
“Cog town?” Nolkonoe whispered, she had now moved up the creature and to the Chiefess’s side.
“A town that creates machines… and weapons,” Charlie answered. Along the stone battlements, there were several wooden towers. Towers which most likely held soldiers aiming God knows what kind of weaponry at them.
The iron gate and wooden doors of the wall opened. Several men, all dressed in blue and green striped armour riding large war horses trotted towards the group. In total there were about ten men. Each had a sword on their hip, as well as a pistol holster. For a moment their horses halted in their advance.
It seemed that their courage only went so far as they looked upon the pincers of the Desert Claimer. Standing as well, the Chiefess held her war spear as she took the golden badge from Charlie. Walking forward, she stood proudly before the men. Offering out the badge, she grinned as she saw the war horses try to pull back towards the safety of the city walls.
Raising her war spear, the Chiefess yelled something in her native tongue. It was obviously overdramatised, but the soldiers seemed to buy it as a look of fear spread across their faces. The Desert Claimer lowered its head, as if bowing on command of the Chiefess. Still glaring at the beast, the men seemed to relax as the Chiefess walked down the creature’s head.
“Off horse, show respect!” the Chiefess barked.
Her voice and tone were like the growl of a beast. It shook the men, and it seemed to scare the war horses even more than the Desert Claimer. For a moment there was silence as a tension surrounded the solders. Some glanced back to the gates, debating whether or not it was acceptable to retreat in such a situation.
Other men held onto their sword, expecting the Chiefess to attack. Contrast to the men who gripped their swords, some men held onto their holsters as they stared towards the archers on the back of the Desert Claimer.
“Drop your weapons!” one of the men barked towards the natives. The man at the front of the group, who seemed to be like some form of general or at least a higher-ranking soldier, raised his hand to signal for the man to be quiet.
“No, its fine. Careful, get off your horses and we can go and inspect the badge,” The man said before he began to dismount his horse. Straightening his back and locking his eyes onto the Chiefess, he dared to meet her gaze as he began to walk forward.
Taking off his round helmet, he tucked it under his arm as he bowed his head slightly to the Chiefess. Despite not knowing whether or not this woman truly was royalty, it was best to assume she was for the time being as to avoid any potential insults that he could cause. Glancing up at her, he studied her stern eyes and strong posture.
“Take,” she said, offering the badge out to him. Keeping his head lowered, he took the badge and began to examine it closely. Biting his bottom lip, he turned to look at the others. His glare and petrified eyes showed them the answer to if the badge was real.
“Sorry for doubting you your majesty, but may I ask for your name, title, and where you come from,” the man said, doing his best to hide the fear in his voice.
Turning back to Charlie, she signalled for him as well as Nolkonoe to come forward. Swiftly, the two complied as the stood by her side. Holding down his fear, Charlie’s eyes scanned over the group. For now, they seemed relaxed, but he knew this was most likely merely a ploy as they had now clicked into a negotiation mode where they could not allow themselves to be seen as weak.
Glancing to Nolkonoe, she muttered a few words while gesturing towards one of the men with her war spear. A couple chuckles and laughs came from the native women.
“Her name is Etasose, Chiefess of the now new Chiefdom that resides over the third Region,” the man nodded as Nolkonoe spoke.
“I had heard of the Desert Ghost tribe before, but to think you are now a Chiefdom… May I ask what this Chiefdom is called?” the man questioned.
“What do you think it would be? They are the Desert Ghosts, worshipers of the Desert Goddess, and their flag is a white banner with the head of a red wolf snarling painted on to it,” Charlie said, his eyes locking with that of the man.
This was a trick he had learnt in his few years as a merchant. The man was probing for possibilities that they could be lying. In other words, he wanted them to lie so that they could have some leverage over the situation. If it had turned out that they were fake royalty who had stolen a golden badge, they could have reported it and most likely have gotten hefty bonuses to their pay checks.
“Tich” the man muttered before lifting his head, “Was it the Merchant union then that awarded you with the badge? And what has happened to the Region Lord Mr Green Water?” the man continued. Glancing to the Chiefess and Nolkonoe, he took their silence as a que for him to continue.
“Mr Green Water was stripped of all titles by the Merchant Union and The Empire, this was due to him committing vast crimes against the native populous that the Union could not overlook,” Stepping forward, Charlie glared at the man.
“As for the badge, that comes from countless men of high birth status who have tiered to win over the Chiefess’s heart. If you are not blind, I think you will be able to tell that what I say is the truth,” Charlie said. Raising his head, the man took several steps towards Charlie.
“Howard Mali,” the man said. Now he stood before Charlie, their high difference was obvious. Charlie was a good six foot, but this man was without a doubt at least six five or seven feet tall.
“Excuse me,” Charlie said, his voice stern, but a slight gleam of fear in Charlie’s eyes told the man he was intimated.
“Its my name, and you would do best not to forget it. I am second in command of the fifth division of the Coin Sword Mercenary group. And may I ask one last question before I relay everything you have told me back to my boss?” he said in his harsh, thick accent. His matted black hair, firm jaw line, and strong cheek bones reminded Charlie greatly of his elder brother.
“Go ahead,” Charlie muttered. Smirking, the man walked even closer to Charlie until he towered over him.
“That Chiefess of yours, is she currently looking for another suitor? I would love to give a shot at her,” His lustful eyes turned their disgusting gaze from Charlie and towards the chest of the Chiefess.
Clenching his fist, Charlie screwed his face into a look of hatred. Before he could raise a hand to fight, a hand wrapped around his arm. Halted in his attack, he turned to see who had stopped him. The Chiefess stood with her hand wrapped around his. Staring the man in the eyes, she carefully pushed Charlie back.
Now in front of the man, she pulled back her long hair so that he could see the beauty of her face in full. Licking her lips, she moved closer to the man so that her breasts only just pressed against his chest. Seductively, she pushed her right leg forward so that it separated his two legs. Now the tops of her thigh pressed against his crouch, she moved the leg she has slipped between his legs to the right.
Stumbling lightly, his balance was regained by the Chiefess as she grabbed the neck of his armour. Pulling him closer, she licked her lips, allowing him to see her sharp wolf-like fangs. Moving even closer to the man, she placed her lips just an inch from his. This a sudden thrust, she grabbed the growing bulge in his trousers. Again, in a swift movement that not even Nolkonoe could track, the Chiefess seemingly locked lips with the man.
A scream roared from the man. Staring on with a mixture of fear and confusion, Charlie followed small drips of blood that trickled onto the sand, staining it a crimson red. The screams of the man only became louder as the Chiefess continued to hold him by his balls. Leaning back slightly, she had the man’s gaze meet hers. Leaning back a little more, she turned her gaze to Charlie, and the man’s followed as well.
“Husband,” she said with a was, bloody smile as her eyes fixed onto Charlie. A crunch was heard as the Chiefess tightened her grip on his crouch. Pushing the man back, he tripped over her right leg and tumbled onto the ground.
“Charlie, husband,” she said sternly as she spat a bit of the man’s lower lip onto the floor.
“No touch husband, no speak bad husband,” her words were broken, but the message was clear. Charlie was hers, and he worked for her.
Very, Very, VERY rough map of the third and fifth Region - made with Photoshop and I for some reason wanted to use my mouse to draw on some of numbers. Don't ask why, I don't know either.
