Thoughts about the progress (Venrah and Kolia)

[Ragnar Lodbrock]

The day was hot, but in the shade of the trees it kept things cool, and the nearby river helped as well. Hordebeasts were moving throughout the camp, doing various tasks, while the warlord remained in his tent looking over the more important things that needed to be done; collecting supplies, finding a source of building materials that would make the fortress strong, and workers... They needed more workers to build it. He had an idea, but he was not going to act on it hastily. He would bring it up in a council.

Ragnar paced back and forth amongst his tent, looking at the building plans that were spread out on the table in front of him. He had not received word of any news, and so he was getting slightly agitated. The horde was busy building scaffolding, but all of that would be useless without stone...

He walked to the entrance of the tent, and called out with a mighty roar, "Venrah, Kolia, come see me in the tent this instant!" Not odd for him, as this was the usual way he called them to council.

[carabadgermum]

Kolia had no trouble hearing the Warlord's summons, even from the other side of the camp. She supposed that was why these beasts chose him as their leader. The wildcat seemed to exude power. That was great as long as he could hold on to it. And Kolia would stick around as long as he (or whomever else came into power) could pay her.

The weaselmaid mainly kept to herself. She'd made the mistake of getting too involved in the last vermin band she was with. Though she had risen to the title of second in command things had not ended well. This time around things would be different. To start with she had requested a tent as far away from the run of the mill horde beasts as possible.

And so she was making this trek across the entire encampment. "Ugg." In her short time traveling alone she had forgotten how much hordebeasts stank. And if the smell of the beast themselves was not bad enough, the stench wafting off their mess tent was positively making her sick to her stomach. Kolia skirted this location as much as she could enduring the curious or in some cases more flirtatious glances of the creatures she passed.

The weaselmaid placed a paw on the most visible of the many daggers she kept concealed about her and continued on her way. If anybeast of them tried to act on that curiosity she would show them just how adept she was with wielding her pretty weapons.

Finally she came to the Warlord's tent and stood confidently facing the guard. "Lord Ragnar wished to see me?"

[Hans Vermeer (Cole)]

Venrah didn't have to worry much about her children when she had to come to the Warlord's tent after the Wildcat's roar. The heat and sun had already did it's work on them and despite even their energy, they had gotten tired and fell dead asleep in the shade of their tent. She almost found it funny how the Wildcat lord had roared out for her at the most perfect time, just when they came back and her kids took a nap.

Her children would not move from the tent, they knew the rules, being from the Northern Kingdoms, it was very smart and even more important, very rewarding with the promise of a long lifespan if children listened to their mother's there. A habit that followed them to Mossflower. Her children also were not awoken by the wildcat, they had heard him before dozens of times and had gotten used to it to the point where it barely disturbed their slumber.

The Second in Command did not need nor require her glaive. Who would be stupid enough to attack this pack? No beast, that was who. Despite this though, she did carry something. A dagger, and the best blade she could get from a horde for now. A good lengthened, wide bladed and nicely paw guarded cutlass, nothing like the War or Bastard Swords of the Middle Kingdoms, but it was worth keeping around for personal protection and as a secondary weapon.

The stink of the horde also effected Venrah, though not nearly as much as how they were equipped. When the castle was done. The wildcat would have to do something about it. A well equipped and organized army would work better than any horde....

When she came to the Warlord's tent, she saw that Kolia was already there. 'Cheeky.' she thought. She never knew why, but Kolia seemed to despise her a lot, what she did know though was that SHE sure despised Kolia, and if she caught her anywhere near her children. All hell would break lose.

Despite how much she would love to teach the weasel some manners with that cutlass at her side, she merely bit her tongue and kept her paws akimbo in a professional manner and simply stood next to her, awaiting entrance....

[Ragnar Lodbrock]

Ragnar had sat in his polished wooden chair, awaiting the arrival of the two beasts. Soon the guard gave the word that they were here, and he gave a wave of his paw to let them open the flaps of his tent fully for them to enter... He soon regretted that, as a breeze wafted the stink of the horde into his tent.

He remained seated while they entered, and then spoke up,

[Ragnar] "Well, first thing's first. Venrah, we're going to have to do something about that smell. If those useless beasts can't keep clean in an encampment like this, they're not going to keep clean in the fortress when it's built. I'm not going to stand for something like that. The ones that choose not to scrub themselves.... Kill them, and burn the bodies outside the camp."

He arose and paced, thinking about the fact that the horde was beginning to become lazy just sitting here. They needed some work to do... Like quarry stone, or be drilled. Their sitting around would matter nothing. If the fortress did not get built then the badgers at that wretched mountain would eventually learn of their presence and attempt to destroy them. These beasts Ragnar knew were ample for pushing around the woodlanders, but not an army from Salamandastron. He spoke up again,

"Also, I think we're going to institute some changes into the horde. They're going to have to patrol, and keep watch on Salamandastron... This fortress has to be completed; even partially, before those damnable badgers get wind of us. That stink will definitely not help us."

He then looked at his weasel gatherer, she was looking a bit different from when she first entered his service, but he thought nothing of it. He walked over to where she was sitting, and standing behind her placed a heavy paw on Kolia's shoulder and then said,

"Give me a report of the supplies, have you and your scouts found any forage places... Or where we can get some stone?"

He slumped back into his chair, reaching over to the cask of black ale that was beside him. Picking up a tankard, he filled it to the brim. Making no offer to the other two beasts, he downed it quickly and placed it back on the table with a thud.

[carabadgermum]

((haha i had really just meant the whole stink to just be something that bothered the super sensitive prego but since everyone's going along with that *shrugs*))

Kolia sat up a little straighter at the Warlord's touch. Not out of respect but out of revulsion at the contact with a male beast. The weaselmaid had not always been so skittish. Of course she had never trusted females, especially mothers, after her own had betrayed her father to his death. No this was a recent development. She wondered if it was because of the relationship she had put an end to with the event of her leaving that other vermin band. Or possibly it was because leaving that band and joining herself to this one so soon after reminded her too much of what her mother had done.

That was ridiculous. Kolia had nothing connecting her to that band. She was a free beast. She didn't have to stay here either if she didn't want to. She wasn't betraying anybeast.

The thud of the tankard on the table brought her thoughts back to the present and she forced herself to remember what Ragnar had asked her. If she did want to stay around here she couldn't keep the Warlord waiting when he questioned her. "Aye, sir. There's forage a plenty in the woodlands. Those beasts what lives there are well established. They've cultivated the ground in many spots and could well be persuaded to part with some of their harvest for the likes of your Lordship."

She nodded her head in a quick bow. Best to keep him happy. "And I've heard there is an outcrop of sandstone to the north and east of here but i haven't been that far in my search as of yet. The word is, however, that the place is inhabited by serpents of some sort. Not many beasts will travel there." With an unconcerned shrug she continued. "These are often just the stories of some clever creature who just wishes to be left alone."

With a smug smile in the direction of the vixen, Kolia went on to prove that she was not afraid. "If you wish it m'Lord I shall set out at first light to check into these claims."

Yes please, she thought. Send me away as quickly as possible so i can get away from this stinking camp.

[Hans Vermeer (Cole)]

(Hope this post does not suck. This is the first time i had played a REALLY high position creature under the command of another that's not my own..... xP )

The Silver Fox of the Northern Kingdoms did the only thing she could do at Kolia's smug smile at her. Ignore her and try to cool her boiling blood down. While she was doing everything that was ordered of her, she would make sure her own agenda would be in decent pace too, having some beasts keep an eye on and report to her about the weasel's activities and positions.

The vixen was quick to lay out what she had planned for what her lord wanted done. " I'll immediately have a score plus captain group sent near Salamandastron's location for reconnaissance, it would be small enough not to be easily noticed when spread out, even if they were spotted. They would likely be taken as no more than a random vermin bandit group. I'll have five beasts from under each captain to head for the river for cleansing, any who refuse will be killed and taken out for burning as you command. Unfortunately it would be a little dangerous to have your soldiers spar against each other due to their horrible lack of self control, But keeping some of the archers and slingers top notch with target practice shall be very easy to set up and have done, whatever is left i will have either guard the camp and construction site or will be sent out on patrol."

She awaited to see what the Wildcat Lord thought of her quickly laid out plans..... And to be dismissed of course.

[Ragnar Lodbrock]

(Don't worry, we're just getting started with our characters right now. Things will pick up eventually)

Ragnar stroked his chin as the two had begun to speak, pulling on the fur that resembled a kind of beard. He listened closely to Kolia, who had answered first, and when she mentioned a sandstone outcrop and serpents, his mind began to think of what to do with them. Hmm, we could make a quarry there... Snakes are tricky creatures though. They take no regard to anyone, and merely stake their own territory... They'll have to be eliminated.

He nodded, and then spoke to Kolia's request,

"Very well, check on this outcrop. Take some of the beasts from my personal guard. Choose ones who are good archers, and have strong bows. I would not have my head tracker be lost in a scouting expedition."

He then listened to Venrah's plans for the horde. It seemed well and good to him, but he wasn't thinking on having the beasts spar, but rather drilled in formations. He pulled out a scroll from beneath the map with some drawing on them. They were pictures of small scale unit tactics that would make them much more mobile rather than having the horde come en masse. Sliding it across the table he said to the vixen,

"Take a look at this, and see if you can make something of it. If the horde works together as a group, we will smash the badger lords no matter their strength. 1 Badger can take on a large horde alone, because they all try to attack him alone... Attack the fool in a formation, and we will scatter their army and slay the fool.

He filled his tankard again, and downed it. Something came to his mind that instant, but he waved it off and he said to the two beasts as they looked to be wanting to leave,

I'll await your return to tell me of your success. And Kolia... Don't engage the serpents if you can avoid them. I'll think of something to deal with them when the time comes. You have my permission to kill any beast that attempts to defy this order.

He quickly wrote down something on a piece of leather, and dropped a few dabs of wax on it from a nearby candle and then stamped in it with his signet ring. Then tossing it to Kolia, he nodded and filled his tankard once more, continuing to pour over the map with the various thoughts running through his mind.

[carabadgermum]

Kolia's expression soured when the warlord suggested she choose members of his guard to take along on her mission. She didn't have any need for otherbeasts. She wanted to go it alone. But she waited patiently for him to finish his orders to the vixen.

The weaselmaid did not want to be heard complaining by the second in command. She had understood quite plainly that the fox would just as soon get rid of her and have a paw in choosing the next gatherer for the horde.

It didn't seem as if she was going to be given the chance to speak to Ragnar alone. With the orders in her paw, she had clearly been given the signal to depart but she would not leave without voicing her opinion. "I appreciate your concern m'Lord," She breathed through her teeth, "But I am quite certain I can handle the scouting operation on my own. Taking your beasts with me will only make the trip slower and more obvious. Alone I can move quicker and unobserved and IF the rumors of serpents are accurate, I can hurry back here to bring you my recommendation for how we should proceed."

The weaselmaid could hear the annoyance in her own voice and she bit her tongue waiting for the response. She couldn't help her tone. Her temper had been shorter as of late, her moods as inconsistent as storms on the open sea. Letting her ill humor get the better of her now was much different than an outburst among the rank and file horde beasts however. Swallowing her pride, she lowered her head and added, "If it be your will, m'Lord."

[Ragnar Lodbrock]

He shook his head in disdain, they tried their best not to show it, but Ragnar could see that the two most important beasts in his army did not get along... Worse, his gatherer seemed to have a mind of her own. But it was not the time to be ruthless or make an example of either of them. He was a crazy evil beast, but Ragnar was not stupid. Kolia had her wits, and Venrah was a good commander. Removing them for something like this, it would be foolish to do so at the start of not only a campaign, but a large building project.

"Fine, if that's what you think is best. But give me back the scroll then, it's useless if you aren't taking any helpers. Also, be sure to mind your tone when speaking to me... You have changed ever since you joined, I hope it is just something minor and will pass soon. Otherwise problems may arise."

He reached his paw over, awaiting for Kolia to hand the scroll over. Of course it would be useless since she was not taking any helpers, but he was also paranoid. The warlord's seal was law, and if she really wanted to, it could be used to kill any of the horde beasts despite the fact that the order was meant for this operation only.

[carabadgermum]

The weaselmaid's mood shifted almost immediately and her features warmed into a relieved smile. Springing from her seat, she placed the scroll into Ragnar's paw. "You won't regret this m'Lord. I'll be back before the next sunset." She gave a swift bow and backed towards the tent flap. As a last thought she added. "And whatever it is... " she couldn't begin to imagine what change he thought must have come over her. "I won't let it effect my service to you m'Lord. I don't want any problems."

Ducking out of the tent, Kolia heaved a great sigh and she was instantly sorry she had taken in such a deep breath. She felt her gorge rise at the stench and had to swallow back a sour mouthful of bile. Gates! She'd be glad to get away from this lot for a while.

"You alright, there?" one of the guards asked her holding out a paw.

Kolia scowled and swatted the paw away. "Of course I'm alright!"

Was everybeast going crazy?

"You sure? Yur lookin' a little green."

"I said I was fine." The weaselmaid pushed passed the guards and held her breath as she raced to the camp fringe.

The warlord had said he'd noticed a change in her and then that guardbeast had said she looked ill. Something was definitely strange. She hoped getting away by herself for a while would clear her head and set things right.