Where the land meets the ocean

[Dixie Ros?]

 It was a normal Southsward night, balmy and warm. Unless you live in a castle, then it's always cold.

Unless you're the warlady or warlord, in which case you have a blazing fire.

Which of course, the Lady Bloodrose did.

Tall and limber, her face held everything to be expected from a female Vulpine; sneaky  green eyes, the kind that dart about as they walk, giving them so careful and aperance. Scars were absent; for  foxes know how to heal. She wore not fine  ramnent, yet corse green linen, and no gems save a golden  chain necklace adored her body.  And a tatoo, the kind you would only see on a fox,  a  simple, red, rose, dripping blood down the side of her face, the kind that always has a story behind it.

Even so, that was not how Bloodrose came across her name.

Sitting at a desk, her paws dashed over parchment, writing a letter, or perhaps an anouncement.

Behind the lady, within paw's reach, hung a yew bow, carved all up and down with roses that matched her face, the wood stained with blood.

And yet this was not how she got her name.

The quiver hung next to the bow. The lady Bloodrose, not looking up from her writing, abesently reached up and took an arrow.

The shaft was fine and strong rosewood, shining in the firelight. The arrow head was black obsydian. The flight was red feathers, dyed with the blood of her victims.

That was how she got her name.

Among those pathitic good beasts, she was only knowns as Bloodrose The Bow.
The lady's castle sat on the edge of Southsward, hidden in a forest.
But of course, this hidden safeguard could not last forever, and that was why she wrote a letter:

"To Lady Pentephraxis-Nightwing:

I am interested in forming a fellowship with you. You master the sea, I do not; I am lady of the land. If you wish to form an alliance, write your reply saying so, and meet me on the border between Mossflower Country and Southsward; and come alone. If you try pulling a fast one, you'll find yourself dead as a coffen-nail.

From the paws of Lady Bloodrose."

Satified, Bloodrose sat back and called softly out for her hawk.

With a woosh of wings he landed on the perch outside the window.

"What dost ya requ're, Lady Blurdro'e?"

Bloodrose half-smiled.

"Take this," she said, holding out the sealed letter to Ashyra,"to lady Pentephraxis of Mossflower country, and make haste; if you are attacked, distroy the letter. Go!"

Bloodrose stepped back and watched her hawk leave.

"The storm has been brewing...With the help of Pentephraxis, we will take him down."



(OOC: For Ashyra and me, started by a few ingame IC messages. "him" could be someone else; that's why I added it.)

[The Voice]

 (ooc: I find it funny how everyone tries making alliances with Ashyra in the rps)

[Dixie Ros?]

 (OOC: That's because she's a SKIFF HORDER!! *evil laughter w/ thunder in  the b/g*

[Ashyra Nightwing]

 It was quiet. The waves lapped against the huge raft on which Ashyra's hall sat. Outside it was cold, but inside, a fire blazed merrily in the hearth, and the room was lit with many lanterns. At the end of the room, a heavy oaken desk sat. Behind it was Ashyra, sitting in a large chair, poring over a map of Southsward and the seas surrounding it. The wildcat was not richly dressed- far from it, in fact. She wore a simple chain-mail tunic and a helmet to match. She looked tired.
Ashyra looked up, and started as a hawk flew in through the high window and landed on a cabinet.
Ashyra stood up and walked over to it, noticing the letter strapped to its leg. She picked up the letter and sat back down at her desk to read it.
"So.. I meet her on the border. That won't be a problem, the floating city isn't far away from there.. Come alone? Why? Maybe she thinks she can trick me.." the wildcat mused, as she picked up the quill pen.
"Deare Lady Bloodrose,
I will meet ye there in two dayes. If ye attempt to trick me, ye will find yoreself even deader than the coffin-naile,
Pente aya phravix,
The Lady Ashyra Pentephraxis-Nightwing"
She got up, walked over to the hawk, and strapped the reply to its leg.
"Go."

[Dixie Ros?]

 A soft swooshing of a sort woke Bloodrose from her half-sleep. The hawk was swooping overhead, and making soft shrieks.

"Mmm..."

Bloodrose was at her desk again; she spent most of her time there.  Akkina (that was the hawk's name) landed softly on Bloodrose's hunched back.

"Laddy Blurdr'se, th' me'age um Ashyra's arrived!"

The jolted her awake, and she sat bolt upright, knocking the hawk off her back.

"Oh, alright Akkina, ah'm awahk!"

Snacking the letter from the irate hawk, she ripped it open and read the words inside.

"Alright, then," she said to herself, half smiling, "You'll see me there, you old wildcat."

She rose up from her desk, and hurried to a chest near ther fair wall. Inside was simple, light yet tough, armor, helmet and breastplate.

Tucking her shortsword into her belt, she lifted her bow, reverently.

"Come, Akkina. We best head for the border."

The hawk settled on Bloodrose's arm, and they were off.  

[Ashyra Nightwing]

 Ashyra walked over to the corner of the room, where a rat sat, making adjustments to a mechanical toy of some sort.
"Vreddle?"
The rat jumped up and saluted.
"Yis, milady?"
"Vreddle, tell someone to get a skiff ready. Not the warship, just a single skiff. I'm going alone.." Ashyra frowned. "But.. You'd better come. Just in case something funny happens. This Lady Bloodrose doesn't have a history being treacherous, but it's still best if you come.. Stay out of sight."
"Yis, milady!" said the rat, and promptly ran out of the room.
The wildcat walked over to a mirror. Leaning against it was a huge broadsword. She picked it up, tested the balance for a moment, then strapped it to her back, attatching the shield over the top. She paused for a moment, then walked down and out of the room.

[Dixie Ros?]

 Day and a half later...

"Akkkkiii...Akkkiii....Kkkk..Kkk.."

Bloodrose's soft voice summoned back the hawk Akkina, who swooped down, landing on Bloodrose's outstreched arm.

"Well, Akkina?"

"'Ady 'Ightving iz commin',  ah tink. See skiff, see wildcat, they don't see me, tho'. Vhat do we do, nah?"

"Keep going. Was the wildcat alone?"

"Ah tink zo."

"Excellent, tho' I'm suprised she actually did as I requested..."

"Fishes?"

"Yes, Akkina, you can have a fish."

"Cheese too?"

"The cheese is mine. Anyway, it's not good for you."

[RazorClaw]

 RazorClaw loved the Northlands. No one sneaking up behind you, for the snow is deep and crunches as one steps. The cold stopped opposing armies from attacking. The cold was what powered Razorclaw. As cold as his heart. He displayed no normal emotions. His smiles were cold. His anger was cold. His contemplation was cool. He was cool under pressure. He didn't break. He didn't fall. He could not be worried. He could not be jubiliant. He did not feel joy. He did not feel hate. He did not feel love. The only activities he had were personal strength training, and army drilling. A pure white weasel with red eyes, one of his paws had the claws replaced with claww-shaped pieces of steel. The steel was coated in ice. He was not evil. He was efficient.
    "Excuse me, sir?"
    "No need, General. I was merely contemplating."
    "Coldly, probably." muttered one of his guards, and both stifled laughter.
    "Sir," the General continued, "Bloodrose is attempting an alliance with Ashyra. It could be, er, problematic."
    RazorClaw laughed. Coldly. Her ships cannot break the ice, except fro small vessels. We have anti-air, anti- sea, and anti-land defenses. Namely, snow, ice, and cold. They cannot do anything to us. However, I will go alone and moniter their meeting. Guard the fortress while I am gone. Do not let any speak of my going. Fare well."
    Fare well. The warmest, most emotional dispersing statement he could manage. The cold did not allow toasty goodbyes.

[Deathclaw]

 "Sir, our patrols have spotted Ashyra and Lady Bloodrose on the move, going  towards the same spot. Our woodlander friends heard of their plans - an alliance of land and water forces. With our fortress lying on the coast, it could pose us difficulties were they to attack us. A large navy from the water, and a large army from the land. I suggest you look into this." Finishing her brief statement, Branna, a female hare in charge of recon and intelligence waited for a sign of dismissal or a motion to be seated from her commander. Neither came for a few minutes, and then he motioned her to be seated.
"In reference to Ashyra, how big is our armada?" asked Deathclaw.
"Probably about one fourth or so, not including fishing boats or anything of that kind," replied Branna.
"Order about ninety percent of our remaining work patrols to chop timber from the woodlands nearby. We will build warships and guardships from those to defend and possibly attack this alliance if it becomes necessary. We will build as many ships as we can put sailors to, and then we can use the rest to upgrade our ships with better defenses and attacking mechanisms. You are dismissed."
With a nod, Branna went off to do her leader's bidding.

[RazorClaw]

 RazorClaw flew towards Bloodrose's castle, running along the coastline. It had been a day and a half since he had left, and he was nearly there. But he diverted to the woods, for they would give him better cover. Avoiding the foliage, he ran along. Suddenly, a fortress popped up into view. RazorClaw gasped. It was massive. Hundreds of beasts were running along with large planks of wood. Suddenly, he ran right into a plank. The last thing he saw was a female hare looking him over, then everything went black.

[Dixie Ros?]

 (OOC: Could you change that? Bloodrose would have already met Ashyra by then. Can ya change it to a day and a half, so there're no knots in the ploy?)

[Deathclaw]

 "Guards!" bellowed Branna. Hurrying over, several hares surrounded the unconscious beast. Motioning to a guard, Branna sent him for Deathclaw. Walking at a quick pace, with dirk, sling, and several more guards following, he went out to see the new arrival.
Speaking to the guards, he ordered, "Put him on a stretcher and take him to my personal guard, who will escort the stretcher to my chambers. I will stay, awaiting his awakening, along with ten or so of my guards and a medic to examine him. Go."
Walking at a fast pace, Deathclaw returned to his chambers, bringing inside with him ten of his Elite Guard, who guarded important army members and important locations. They were his most trusted and most dangerous soldiers. They were distinguished by the 'EG' emblazoned on the front and back of their green tunics, which slipped over their chain mail armor.
Lining themselves either around the bed, by Deathclaw, or along the walls, the ten EG members stood with weapons sheathed but close to paw. They were only there to stop an escape, though anyone outside the room could stop him. The medic entered to examine her patient.
"He took a nasty whack and will wake up groggy, but he'll have no lasting injuries."
Dismissing the medic, Deathclaw turned to his guard in the room.
"All but two of you, organize about twenty five or so of the Elite Guard and search for any soldiers or travelers accompanying our friend. Send back a runner if you need help or have information for me," finished Deathclaw.
Taking up positions, the two remaining guards stood awaiting the patients awakening. It wouldn't be long now...

[Ashyra Nightwing]

 It was quite dark. The waves lapped at the sand of the small beach, surrounded by rocks. A small boat lay in the shallows. A pair of creatures- a short, stocky wildcat and a skinny rat- stood ankle-deep in the water.
"It's cold, milady.." said Vreddle to Ashyra, as they waded out onto the sand.
"I know!" snapped Ashyra. They had had a bad trip. Stormy weather, continuously pouring rain and huge waves had set the wildcat in a bad mood. She wished that they had taken the warship- it didn't leak, it was warm, and it didn't make her seasick. But bringing it was out of the question, as it took many creatures to sail.
The two walked up the beach and into the trees, neither one speaking a word to each other.
Ashyra turned to Vreddle.
"Vreddle, stay here. I wasn't supposed to bring you."
"But, milady, it's cold!"
"I don't care. Stay here. The appointed meeting-spot is just around the corner."
"Okay then."
Ashyra walked off into the trees.

[RazorClaw]

 RazorClaw awoke. He was suprised the beasts had not killed him. He would have, after torture. Still, he was glad he had not brought followers, as they would have been killed and he pinned as the ringleader. He was suprised. He had actually felt gladness. That wasn't a good sign. He must have been hit hard. He slowly opened his eyes to see a circle of dangerous-looking hares about him. He jumped up and straightened his silk vest. He tried to manage a warm smile. He could not. Good. At least he felt somewhat normal.
  "Hello." He said. "I am Razor-" Wait he couldn't tell them his name and his identity. Hopefully his fame hadn't spread to the coast. He continued, after a hacking cough, "I am-" he thought of a good vermin name, "Deathclaw. Pleased to make your acquiaintance." He could have made his name "Dibbun on a Spit" and he would have been safer, for he had revealed his falseties unwittingly. He waited nervously for the reply.

[Deathclaw]

 "What is your true name? I am Deathclaw, vermin. Speak truthfully, it'll go better."
Tightening his grip on his dirk, he was ready to stand at the guard position with his weapon if the vermin in front of him tried to fight or escape. The other hares did likewise, gripping their bladehandles, wondering what the vermin would do next.