Post by AuraGuard on Jul 4, 2015 18:17:10 GMT -6
"...And what are you all doing about it? Having fucking wine and cheese parties!" the human ambassador from Pyren yelled at the ruler of the Argent elves of Zephrus, who just raised an eyebrow, silver-feathered wings half unfurled. Ukozi barely kept himself from shaking his head, this nonsense having been going on for a while now. He could also sense the Wind Champion in the shadows, well out of sight but definitely not out of hearing range.
"Now now, don't go insulting our 'wine and cheese parties,'" the king of Zephrus said, getting an idea that would hopefully help diffuse the situation. Preferably before the Wind Champion was forced to leave for elsewhere, as he'd been meaning to hold a conversation with the illusive wind master for a while now. "We put a considerable amount of effort into making sure that they have just the right 'complaints-to-cheesiness' ratio."
That got a few snorts, and a couple of chuckles, but there wasn't much laughter. There was; however, a now-very-amused winged elf smirking at a now-very-flustered human. The others around the table were the Rådjur prince of Natura, a drow ambassador from Necross, a scantly-clad human from Verime (who hated how 'warm' it was in Zephrus), Bright Sun In Daytime Sky (who was standing just behind Ukozi on his right), another (properly clothed) human from Kaovina, and an aquatic elf from Aqulea. Ukozi's mate was lying down near the throne on a straw nest, keeping the egg of their unhatched chick warm even as she dosed.
"I-but that's not the point!" the human spluttered.
"Isn't it?" the argent elf asked, his tone smug. "Your arguments are getting increasingly flimsy. Why should Pyren gain access to my people's efforts? Zephrus owes nothing to Pyren, and the argenteus have always kept to ourselves. We have never asked for outside aid, so why should we pay tribute? And to someone not even of our region? This is the Land of the Wind, human, not the Land of Fire. And should my people ever have more surplus than we can store, we would give it to our regional High King, not some random human noble house over the sea."
"This bores me," the drow spoke up, interrupting the human's next attempt. "I did not come here to hear a winged airhead argue with a fire-based dolt." She turned to Ukozi, ignoring the fire elemental's sputtering over the insult and the argent's frowning. "I came here to learn whether or not your Champion will finally deign to show themself at the next tournament. All the other Champions attend and prove their region's strength, why not yours?"
"My Champion has other things to attend to," Ukozi said calmly. This wasn't the first time Winds' lack of participating in the tournaments came up. "They take care of many troubles within our own lands, rather than showing off for no purpose other than to show off. They do not need to put on a display to defend our region."
"Then am I able to safely assume that they will not be present for the upcoming tournament, either?" the drow asked, eyebrow raised archly.
"That, I will have to discuss with them," Ukozi replied, then gave a slow blink. "It is their choice." While most of it was true, that last part wasn't. The Wind Titan simply didn't give Wind in the Cliffs enough time off to even visit the tournaments, let alone participate. At least, until recently. Ukozi had managed to procure a little gift for the Wind Champion. After all, it was technically a part of a Champion's right to be able to at least attend the tournaments.
"Then my time here has finished," the drow sniffed, placing her empty tea cup on the table. Not that she'd had that much in it to begin with. "I have other things to attend to. Good day." With that, the dusky-coloured dark elf haughtily strode into the shadows, thankfully a good ways away from Winds, and disappeared into them, using her elemental powers to travel back to her home region.
"I hate elves," the Verime human muttered. The argent ruler ignored the comment.
"Alas, I am afraid that it is time for this current discussion to end," Ukozi said. Having ended fifteen arguments and diffused one potential one in the last two hours, the kanatli was longing for a break from racial slurs and vague insults being thrown about - both of which were unfortunately very common amongst all species, both Awakened and hume. "The guards by the door will show you to your quarters. I do believe that you will enjoy them. Take the time to rest, relax, and perhaps enjoy the rest of the day without worries."
And give Ukozi time to speak with Winds, who was probably getting tired of standing around for hours on end...if the elf hadn't fallen asleep standing up at least. The original Titans knew that wind master didn't get much time to rest. The king of Zephrus watched as the nobles and ambassadors walked out of the room, the guards by the doors heading off with them to show them their quarters. Bright didn't need any orders, and simply walked outside without being told, already knowing to guard the door and prevent unwanted entry.
As the door closed, Ukozi finally shook his head, then made a complicated motion with his wrist. A spell on the room made it sound proof, and then he stretched his wings without looking to the shadows.
"Good evening, Wind in the Cliffs," he said, sounding as if he hadn't just had to deal with a bunch of high-class nonsense. "I trust that your journey here went well?"
Shanya the First continued to doze, well-aware of who the Wind Champion was (and what he was), and not really caring. Her concerns lay entirely with the unhatched young life within the egg she was brooding, her very last, for she knew that she wouldn't live to see the rest of the year...
"Now now, don't go insulting our 'wine and cheese parties,'" the king of Zephrus said, getting an idea that would hopefully help diffuse the situation. Preferably before the Wind Champion was forced to leave for elsewhere, as he'd been meaning to hold a conversation with the illusive wind master for a while now. "We put a considerable amount of effort into making sure that they have just the right 'complaints-to-cheesiness' ratio."
That got a few snorts, and a couple of chuckles, but there wasn't much laughter. There was; however, a now-very-amused winged elf smirking at a now-very-flustered human. The others around the table were the Rådjur prince of Natura, a drow ambassador from Necross, a scantly-clad human from Verime (who hated how 'warm' it was in Zephrus), Bright Sun In Daytime Sky (who was standing just behind Ukozi on his right), another (properly clothed) human from Kaovina, and an aquatic elf from Aqulea. Ukozi's mate was lying down near the throne on a straw nest, keeping the egg of their unhatched chick warm even as she dosed.
"I-but that's not the point!" the human spluttered.
"Isn't it?" the argent elf asked, his tone smug. "Your arguments are getting increasingly flimsy. Why should Pyren gain access to my people's efforts? Zephrus owes nothing to Pyren, and the argenteus have always kept to ourselves. We have never asked for outside aid, so why should we pay tribute? And to someone not even of our region? This is the Land of the Wind, human, not the Land of Fire. And should my people ever have more surplus than we can store, we would give it to our regional High King, not some random human noble house over the sea."
"This bores me," the drow spoke up, interrupting the human's next attempt. "I did not come here to hear a winged airhead argue with a fire-based dolt." She turned to Ukozi, ignoring the fire elemental's sputtering over the insult and the argent's frowning. "I came here to learn whether or not your Champion will finally deign to show themself at the next tournament. All the other Champions attend and prove their region's strength, why not yours?"
"My Champion has other things to attend to," Ukozi said calmly. This wasn't the first time Winds' lack of participating in the tournaments came up. "They take care of many troubles within our own lands, rather than showing off for no purpose other than to show off. They do not need to put on a display to defend our region."
"Then am I able to safely assume that they will not be present for the upcoming tournament, either?" the drow asked, eyebrow raised archly.
"That, I will have to discuss with them," Ukozi replied, then gave a slow blink. "It is their choice." While most of it was true, that last part wasn't. The Wind Titan simply didn't give Wind in the Cliffs enough time off to even visit the tournaments, let alone participate. At least, until recently. Ukozi had managed to procure a little gift for the Wind Champion. After all, it was technically a part of a Champion's right to be able to at least attend the tournaments.
"Then my time here has finished," the drow sniffed, placing her empty tea cup on the table. Not that she'd had that much in it to begin with. "I have other things to attend to. Good day." With that, the dusky-coloured dark elf haughtily strode into the shadows, thankfully a good ways away from Winds, and disappeared into them, using her elemental powers to travel back to her home region.
"I hate elves," the Verime human muttered. The argent ruler ignored the comment.
"Alas, I am afraid that it is time for this current discussion to end," Ukozi said. Having ended fifteen arguments and diffused one potential one in the last two hours, the kanatli was longing for a break from racial slurs and vague insults being thrown about - both of which were unfortunately very common amongst all species, both Awakened and hume. "The guards by the door will show you to your quarters. I do believe that you will enjoy them. Take the time to rest, relax, and perhaps enjoy the rest of the day without worries."
And give Ukozi time to speak with Winds, who was probably getting tired of standing around for hours on end...if the elf hadn't fallen asleep standing up at least. The original Titans knew that wind master didn't get much time to rest. The king of Zephrus watched as the nobles and ambassadors walked out of the room, the guards by the doors heading off with them to show them their quarters. Bright didn't need any orders, and simply walked outside without being told, already knowing to guard the door and prevent unwanted entry.
As the door closed, Ukozi finally shook his head, then made a complicated motion with his wrist. A spell on the room made it sound proof, and then he stretched his wings without looking to the shadows.
"Good evening, Wind in the Cliffs," he said, sounding as if he hadn't just had to deal with a bunch of high-class nonsense. "I trust that your journey here went well?"
Shanya the First continued to doze, well-aware of who the Wind Champion was (and what he was), and not really caring. Her concerns lay entirely with the unhatched young life within the egg she was brooding, her very last, for she knew that she wouldn't live to see the rest of the year...