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The Celestial Empire (Romance of the Three Kingdoms-ish, Updated 12/09/05)
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<blockquote data-quote="Emperor Valerian" data-source="post: 1920987" data-attributes="member: 15043"><p>Oh, I like audience questions. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p></p><p>Well, Captain Li is still being carted around, bound and gagged, so he hasn’t figured into much anything yet... so I sorta forgot him in my notes even up till this point.</p><p></p><p>On that note, tomorrow I’m leaving for winter break, so there won’t be any updates until after the first. Happy Holidays, everyone!</p><p></p><p>And now, the start of the third session.</p><p></p><p>==========================================</p><p></p><p><strong>A Message</strong></p><p></p><p>“Can’t leave yet.”</p><p></p><p>“What? Why?” Nayu asked quietly as he finished a cup of steamed wine. “Is that why you’re so late getting back?” Outside, the lack of shadows spoke that it was already noon, nearly two hours after Felonca was supposed to return. </p><p></p><p>The panther hengeyokai looked about, and flagged down a waiter as well to get herself a cup.</p><p></p><p>“Well, Liu is still with his brothers in faith... they’re talking in low voices about something or other, they seemed kinda upset when I barged in,” Felonca rolled her eyes slightly. “That, and Chou right now is drunk out of his mind, laying up in the Inn of Bountiful Harvests, by the northern gate. His father was there as well, we talked for a bit, that’s why I’m late. Oh, and I bought something too!”</p><p></p><p>“You <em>ungagged</em> him?” Nayu’s voice was suddenly dark, and she could see fury playing just within the edges of his eyes... none of which disturbed Felonca whatsoever.</p><p></p><p>“Yeah, yeah, I did,” she waved off his anger. “Man’s been bound save for eating some time now. And he has been behaving well. Anyways, look at my hair!” She motioned towards the mop of black on her head, now held in a bun by three rather well made sticks. “Aren’t they lovely? Cost me 50 gold to get them!”</p><p></p><p>Her impish reply deflated Nayu’s anger, and she silently thanked her ancestors the little idea had worked. </p><p></p><p>“That’s... rather expensive for what looks to be a triplet of ornate chopsticks. Any particular reason?” he groaned, going along with her excitement unwillingly.</p><p></p><p>“Some. They might come in handy,” Felonca gave a broad grin of <em>”I know a secret!”</em> before looking outside at the chaos of the city traffic. “I say we head to the Bountiful Harvest, and get some rooms.” She watched Nayu stiffen a bit, before gently adding, “One more day, that’s all... whatever Liu was busy with seemed important, and when Chou I imagine is <em>very</em> grumpy when hungover... its best to just let him sleep it off.”</p><p></p><p>Nayu gave a grunt of defeat, and the two left for the inn.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><em>Ah... feather mattresses and goosedown pillows are the best inventions of all time!</em> Felonca snuggled into their softness, relaxing and stretching for sleep for only the second time in some weeks. Her eyes opened briefly, as she took in the moonlight coming through the windows of the Bountiful Harvest.</p><p></p><p><em>Nayu’s probably fidgety... I bet he’ll wake everyone up early tomorrow... I hope the runner got the message to Liu, otherwise we’ll have to find him tomorrow and Nayu will be even more cross...</em></p><p></p><p>Sleep gently took her away, to world that existed only three months before. In its deep mists, Felonca saw faces, swishing flashing in front of her eyes. Her father, tall, stern and commanding, the front hairs of his muzzle starting to turn gray. His deep voice, proud and powerful, wishing her the blessings of her ancestors as she left for the Academy.</p><p></p><p>As his hand gestured to the outside of her house, the mists of her dreamworld parted, revealing the Academy, its squat sandstone and brick structure blazing red in the sun, only steps away.</p><p></p><p>“Wa-Feng Felonca!” a sharp, thundering voice barked. A shadow, and fear raced through Felonca’s mind. A hulking, powerful shape blotting out the sun, casting her into the darkness. The same green eyes that for ten years had followed and cursed her throughout the Academy, their cat-like pupils narrowing into slits. Master Hsiu’ massive, nine foot tall frame bristled, the orange and blacked stripes on his hengeyokai fur standing on end.</p><p></p><p>Just as quickly, the apparition seemed to vanish, and she found herself at archery practice... A white wolf hengeyokai stood beside her, his eyes dangerous, his form towering, hulking, massive.</p><p></p><p>“My clan will end yours, Wa-Feng,” he sneered, Felonca’s family name coming out as if it was a curse. “Bai-Long shall crush your piting ‘Black Fangs,’ to pieces, you stupid little girl!”</p><p></p><p>Felonca’s mind remembered the anger she felt at that statement. <em>The White Wolf Clan will never end us! They are thieves, robbers, and scoundrels! No more!</em> She remembered hot and angry words coming to her mouth, her blood rushing in her veins as she prepared to wipe the sneer off of Bai-Long Mao’s white haired face.</p><p></p><p>“Your clan is nothing! The White Wolf Clan is nothing more than a bunch of cowardly thieves, who use night and bribery where <em>real</em> warriors would rely on their steel, brains and courage!” she snapped back. “You are nothing but a bunch of murdering cowards!”</p><p></p><p>The wolf turned completely to face her, his eyes furious.</p><p></p><p>“If we are such ‘cowardly murderers,’ why are our clans services in use by most of the courtiers and nobles within the Empire? And why, oh miss bravery, miss ignorance, miss wooden fool, is your clan’s services so... lacking in need?”</p><p></p><p>“My clan was a clan of warriors! A clan of leaders in battle! My grandfather led 10,000 of the Imperial troops at the Great Battle of the Sands! My father fought off a thousand Kara Kitai tribesmen with only a company of 50 men!” she protested, hot anger causing tears to start to form in her eyes. “The Black Fang have always been a proud clan of warriors!”</p><p></p><p>“Yet you, boastful one, despite being the most senior cadet here by many years, have yet to lead morning drill practice! You are weak, you stupid cat! Your clan is weak too! No one needs soldiers! They only need us... and we make soldiers die in their sleep!”</p><p></p><p>“Bai-Long! Wa-Feng! You are excused from archery.” a high, nasally voice droned from seemingly inside her head. Her dream spun around, and she found herself confronting a familiar, comforting face.</p><p></p><p>Master Quan-Shi was a rare weasel hengeyokai... and even rarer still, he was an expert in the ways of war. A bowman extraordinaire, according to legend it was Quan-Shi’s quick bow some twenty years before that had saved the Emperor’s uncle in a battle with the desert tribes of the north. Now, he taught others the skills of archery, and had risen to a high place amongst the instructors of the Academy. The only reason he wasn’t second to Master Hsiu himself was due to some unknown but virulent disagreements between the two.</p><p></p><p>“You’re lucky, Wa-Feng,” Mao’s icy blue eyes bore deep into Felonca’s mind as he hissed. “If Master Quan-Shi hadn’t come, I’d ripped you right to shreds... just like how oneday I and my clan will shred apart your mother, your father...”</p><p></p><p>Felonca felt once again her claws extend, and felt the anger coursing through her body, writhing, growing more and more as the wolf hengeyokai continued his rant. Echoes of her parents voices ran rampant, but just as she was about to swing at him, she knew Master Quan-Shi was behind her.</p><p></p><p>“YOU ARE DISMISSED, BAI-LONG MAO!” his voice gave a rare bark, with enough vehemence and command that even the powerful wolf jumped back slightly. The eyes looked at Quan-Shi fearfully, before giving a final sneer at Felonca.</p><p></p><p>Felonca, hot tears streaming down her face, turned to leave as well, before the high, nasally voice, still sharp with command, called out.</p><p></p><p>“You wait a moment, Wa-Feng!”</p><p></p><p>Slowly she turned, dropping to one knee, the standard sign of respect for one of the Masters. </p><p></p><p>“Master Quan-Shi. I apologize for my...”</p><p></p><p>“Wa-Feng Felonca,” the voice said, much softer and quieter. “You are a brave girl, but a foolish one as well. Mao could have torn you to pieces in a fight, and... to be honest, you do not have the skills yet without weapons to have resisted him. You must learn to walk away from such a contest, avoid such a fight, until you have the resources to gain victory.” The weasel’s dark eyes belied concern for his student, even as he folded his arms. “You are proud and headstrong, Felonca... you must learn to harness those energies to make yourself stronger, faster and better. You are a gifted student, you merely need focus.”</p><p></p><p>The voice was silent momentarily, before it returned, sharpness back within its depths.</p><p></p><p>“Wa-Feng Felonca! You, as well as Bai-Long Mao, will report to Master Hsiu for disciplining. On the battlefield, you will have to act as one, regardless of personal likes and dislikes. Dissention within the ranks cannot be permitted!” Even as he barked the orders, Felonca could see concern, and perhaps even regret in his eyes. </p><p></p><p><em>Quan-Shi cared, at least... cared enough to treat me like a person... unlike Master Hsiu, Bai-Long, or most of the other students...</em></p><p></p><p>Dread filled the young hengeyokai’s heart. In her previous ten years, it had become apparent that Master Hsiu himself had taken a personal disliking to her... and disliking that resulted in lashings every time trouble occurred. Her mind wrapped around the idea of the whip cutting open her back.</p><p></p><p>And with a gasp, she awoke.</p><p></p><p>The same soft moonlight petered through the windows of the inn, and the noise of singing and carousing from downstairs had died away, only to be replaced by...</p><p></p><p><em>What’s that?</em> Her sensitive hearing caused her to snap upright, as faint scratches and patter lessened into nothing. With a leap, she landed silently beside her warfans, and clasped them within her grasp. A second later, she was by the door, carefully waiting and ready. Slowly, cautiously, she opened the door a crack, just wide enough an eye could see out. Another hand reached up, and pulled one of the “chopsticks” down. Her blood was rushing so hard that the hand clasping the weapon trembled.</p><p></p><p>Nothing.</p><p></p><p>She sniffed the air, and smelled something familiar... something strange. Squirrel.</p><p></p><p><em>Nixu!</em> her mind jumped, remembering the young hengeyokai that had run away from her before her injury. <em>Why was Nixu here? He could be in...</em></p><p></p><p>Her start into the hallway was interrupted when she her silk rustle beneath her feet. She looked down, and saw what looked be a silk bag, holding something. Carefully, she reached down, and opened up the bag, revealing a necklace with several large, blue stones... not gems, but nonetheless beautiful in a haunting and strange way.</p><p></p><p>That, however, was not what drew Felonca’s attention the most.</p><p></p><p>The bag, itself, was a letter, written on fine silk parchment. As she read the contents, Felonca’s eyes grew wider and wider...</p><p></p><p></p><p><em>Felonca,</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>You were always one of my brightest pupils, but sadly also among the most rash. Why did you leave the school? You were clearly bright and apt at the arts of war. Hsiu was so furious at you he took most of his good warriors to run you down.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>I expose myself to great risk by sending this message to you: Beware. Hsiu has gone so far as to hire White Wolf Clan members to hunt you down. I do not need to tell you of their skills. You are very bright, young Felonca... do not let your skills go for nought.</em></p><p></p><p>At the bottom, was the stamp of the only one of the school Master’s that cared about her...</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Emperor Valerian, post: 1920987, member: 15043"] Oh, I like audience questions. :) Well, Captain Li is still being carted around, bound and gagged, so he hasn’t figured into much anything yet... so I sorta forgot him in my notes even up till this point. On that note, tomorrow I’m leaving for winter break, so there won’t be any updates until after the first. Happy Holidays, everyone! And now, the start of the third session. ========================================== [b]A Message[/b] “Can’t leave yet.” “What? Why?” Nayu asked quietly as he finished a cup of steamed wine. “Is that why you’re so late getting back?” Outside, the lack of shadows spoke that it was already noon, nearly two hours after Felonca was supposed to return. The panther hengeyokai looked about, and flagged down a waiter as well to get herself a cup. “Well, Liu is still with his brothers in faith... they’re talking in low voices about something or other, they seemed kinda upset when I barged in,” Felonca rolled her eyes slightly. “That, and Chou right now is drunk out of his mind, laying up in the Inn of Bountiful Harvests, by the northern gate. His father was there as well, we talked for a bit, that’s why I’m late. Oh, and I bought something too!” “You [i]ungagged[/i] him?” Nayu’s voice was suddenly dark, and she could see fury playing just within the edges of his eyes... none of which disturbed Felonca whatsoever. “Yeah, yeah, I did,” she waved off his anger. “Man’s been bound save for eating some time now. And he has been behaving well. Anyways, look at my hair!” She motioned towards the mop of black on her head, now held in a bun by three rather well made sticks. “Aren’t they lovely? Cost me 50 gold to get them!” Her impish reply deflated Nayu’s anger, and she silently thanked her ancestors the little idea had worked. “That’s... rather expensive for what looks to be a triplet of ornate chopsticks. Any particular reason?” he groaned, going along with her excitement unwillingly. “Some. They might come in handy,” Felonca gave a broad grin of [i]”I know a secret!”[/i] before looking outside at the chaos of the city traffic. “I say we head to the Bountiful Harvest, and get some rooms.” She watched Nayu stiffen a bit, before gently adding, “One more day, that’s all... whatever Liu was busy with seemed important, and when Chou I imagine is [i]very[/i] grumpy when hungover... its best to just let him sleep it off.” Nayu gave a grunt of defeat, and the two left for the inn. [i]Ah... feather mattresses and goosedown pillows are the best inventions of all time![/i] Felonca snuggled into their softness, relaxing and stretching for sleep for only the second time in some weeks. Her eyes opened briefly, as she took in the moonlight coming through the windows of the Bountiful Harvest. [i]Nayu’s probably fidgety... I bet he’ll wake everyone up early tomorrow... I hope the runner got the message to Liu, otherwise we’ll have to find him tomorrow and Nayu will be even more cross...[/i] Sleep gently took her away, to world that existed only three months before. In its deep mists, Felonca saw faces, swishing flashing in front of her eyes. Her father, tall, stern and commanding, the front hairs of his muzzle starting to turn gray. His deep voice, proud and powerful, wishing her the blessings of her ancestors as she left for the Academy. As his hand gestured to the outside of her house, the mists of her dreamworld parted, revealing the Academy, its squat sandstone and brick structure blazing red in the sun, only steps away. “Wa-Feng Felonca!” a sharp, thundering voice barked. A shadow, and fear raced through Felonca’s mind. A hulking, powerful shape blotting out the sun, casting her into the darkness. The same green eyes that for ten years had followed and cursed her throughout the Academy, their cat-like pupils narrowing into slits. Master Hsiu’ massive, nine foot tall frame bristled, the orange and blacked stripes on his hengeyokai fur standing on end. Just as quickly, the apparition seemed to vanish, and she found herself at archery practice... A white wolf hengeyokai stood beside her, his eyes dangerous, his form towering, hulking, massive. “My clan will end yours, Wa-Feng,” he sneered, Felonca’s family name coming out as if it was a curse. “Bai-Long shall crush your piting ‘Black Fangs,’ to pieces, you stupid little girl!” Felonca’s mind remembered the anger she felt at that statement. [i]The White Wolf Clan will never end us! They are thieves, robbers, and scoundrels! No more![/i] She remembered hot and angry words coming to her mouth, her blood rushing in her veins as she prepared to wipe the sneer off of Bai-Long Mao’s white haired face. “Your clan is nothing! The White Wolf Clan is nothing more than a bunch of cowardly thieves, who use night and bribery where [i]real[/i] warriors would rely on their steel, brains and courage!” she snapped back. “You are nothing but a bunch of murdering cowards!” The wolf turned completely to face her, his eyes furious. “If we are such ‘cowardly murderers,’ why are our clans services in use by most of the courtiers and nobles within the Empire? And why, oh miss bravery, miss ignorance, miss wooden fool, is your clan’s services so... lacking in need?” “My clan was a clan of warriors! A clan of leaders in battle! My grandfather led 10,000 of the Imperial troops at the Great Battle of the Sands! My father fought off a thousand Kara Kitai tribesmen with only a company of 50 men!” she protested, hot anger causing tears to start to form in her eyes. “The Black Fang have always been a proud clan of warriors!” “Yet you, boastful one, despite being the most senior cadet here by many years, have yet to lead morning drill practice! You are weak, you stupid cat! Your clan is weak too! No one needs soldiers! They only need us... and we make soldiers die in their sleep!” “Bai-Long! Wa-Feng! You are excused from archery.” a high, nasally voice droned from seemingly inside her head. Her dream spun around, and she found herself confronting a familiar, comforting face. Master Quan-Shi was a rare weasel hengeyokai... and even rarer still, he was an expert in the ways of war. A bowman extraordinaire, according to legend it was Quan-Shi’s quick bow some twenty years before that had saved the Emperor’s uncle in a battle with the desert tribes of the north. Now, he taught others the skills of archery, and had risen to a high place amongst the instructors of the Academy. The only reason he wasn’t second to Master Hsiu himself was due to some unknown but virulent disagreements between the two. “You’re lucky, Wa-Feng,” Mao’s icy blue eyes bore deep into Felonca’s mind as he hissed. “If Master Quan-Shi hadn’t come, I’d ripped you right to shreds... just like how oneday I and my clan will shred apart your mother, your father...” Felonca felt once again her claws extend, and felt the anger coursing through her body, writhing, growing more and more as the wolf hengeyokai continued his rant. Echoes of her parents voices ran rampant, but just as she was about to swing at him, she knew Master Quan-Shi was behind her. “YOU ARE DISMISSED, BAI-LONG MAO!” his voice gave a rare bark, with enough vehemence and command that even the powerful wolf jumped back slightly. The eyes looked at Quan-Shi fearfully, before giving a final sneer at Felonca. Felonca, hot tears streaming down her face, turned to leave as well, before the high, nasally voice, still sharp with command, called out. “You wait a moment, Wa-Feng!” Slowly she turned, dropping to one knee, the standard sign of respect for one of the Masters. “Master Quan-Shi. I apologize for my...” “Wa-Feng Felonca,” the voice said, much softer and quieter. “You are a brave girl, but a foolish one as well. Mao could have torn you to pieces in a fight, and... to be honest, you do not have the skills yet without weapons to have resisted him. You must learn to walk away from such a contest, avoid such a fight, until you have the resources to gain victory.” The weasel’s dark eyes belied concern for his student, even as he folded his arms. “You are proud and headstrong, Felonca... you must learn to harness those energies to make yourself stronger, faster and better. You are a gifted student, you merely need focus.” The voice was silent momentarily, before it returned, sharpness back within its depths. “Wa-Feng Felonca! You, as well as Bai-Long Mao, will report to Master Hsiu for disciplining. On the battlefield, you will have to act as one, regardless of personal likes and dislikes. Dissention within the ranks cannot be permitted!” Even as he barked the orders, Felonca could see concern, and perhaps even regret in his eyes. [i]Quan-Shi cared, at least... cared enough to treat me like a person... unlike Master Hsiu, Bai-Long, or most of the other students...[/i] Dread filled the young hengeyokai’s heart. In her previous ten years, it had become apparent that Master Hsiu himself had taken a personal disliking to her... and disliking that resulted in lashings every time trouble occurred. Her mind wrapped around the idea of the whip cutting open her back. And with a gasp, she awoke. The same soft moonlight petered through the windows of the inn, and the noise of singing and carousing from downstairs had died away, only to be replaced by... [i]What’s that?[/i] Her sensitive hearing caused her to snap upright, as faint scratches and patter lessened into nothing. With a leap, she landed silently beside her warfans, and clasped them within her grasp. A second later, she was by the door, carefully waiting and ready. Slowly, cautiously, she opened the door a crack, just wide enough an eye could see out. Another hand reached up, and pulled one of the “chopsticks” down. Her blood was rushing so hard that the hand clasping the weapon trembled. Nothing. She sniffed the air, and smelled something familiar... something strange. Squirrel. [i]Nixu![/i] her mind jumped, remembering the young hengeyokai that had run away from her before her injury. [i]Why was Nixu here? He could be in...[/i] Her start into the hallway was interrupted when she her silk rustle beneath her feet. She looked down, and saw what looked be a silk bag, holding something. Carefully, she reached down, and opened up the bag, revealing a necklace with several large, blue stones... not gems, but nonetheless beautiful in a haunting and strange way. That, however, was not what drew Felonca’s attention the most. The bag, itself, was a letter, written on fine silk parchment. As she read the contents, Felonca’s eyes grew wider and wider... [i]Felonca, You were always one of my brightest pupils, but sadly also among the most rash. Why did you leave the school? You were clearly bright and apt at the arts of war. Hsiu was so furious at you he took most of his good warriors to run you down. I expose myself to great risk by sending this message to you: Beware. Hsiu has gone so far as to hire White Wolf Clan members to hunt you down. I do not need to tell you of their skills. You are very bright, young Felonca... do not let your skills go for nought.[/i] At the bottom, was the stamp of the only one of the school Master’s that cared about her... [/QUOTE]
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