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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Knight Otu" data-source="post: 2812798" data-attributes="member: 192">And the two unfamiliar faces that were hinted at:The GnideIagh watched the procession from his hole. He was very proud of the hole – he made it all by himself, and hid it using the surrounding plants. A good place to see Ngoudhialh’s city, from where he had fled so long ago. How long has it been? A year? Such a long time. During this time, he had built up a small band of gnides who fled their masters just like he did. Most had fled the city like he did. There had been a few that were set out at a young age, to die in the wilds. Their band took to rearing them, as their children. Why should only gnolls and flinds have children, anyway?Then there was the third kind of members in the band. The freed gnides, those who could not flee by themselves. Iagh was certain that every gnide in the city would rather be free, just like he and his band. This procession he watched was a good chance to free a few of them. Some ruler named Bhaeshuidh had sent it here. They seemed what the rulers of the city called ‘rich’. Togas, golden necklaces, some guy at the center had one of those scepter things...And of course, slaves. Humans, gnides, halflings (what were they good for, anyway, apart from a quick snack?)... if the band could break up this procession, they’d have many new members. And enough food for a welcome feast...The FlonnThe human slave was busy redecorating the columns in front of Bhaeshuidh's palace as he heard the signal. Swiftly, he dropped to the ground. He might have good relations with his lord, but he still was but a slave...The inhabitants of the capital, Bhaeshuidh's city, came and gathered in front of the palace. Gnolls. Flinds. Gnides. Sslaves of various races, from halflings to half-giants. Waiting for Bhaeshuidh himself to emerge.And there he came. Carried on a palanquin by two gnides, the ruler of six cities emerged from the palace. He stood up, presenting himself to the crowd. “Bhaerhou!” he yelled out, and everyone in the crowd that did not lie in the dirt as a slave raised his arms and likewise yelled out “Bhaerhou!”In his time, the human slave had learned that bhaerhou, despite what he originally thought, was not a title – but it had become a title in other parts of the world. Pharaoh.Bhaerhou, on the other hand, was a claim, an expresseion, and almost a ceremony. “I have, and still am, building an Empire!” was the best translation that the human slave had heard. The repeat by the crowd essentially meant “Indeed you do!”Bhaeshuidh continued his address to his subjects. As the ruler spoke in the language of the gnolls, the human slave understood little. It appeared that Bhaeshuidh announced that a war would come, and that another city would join the empire.About an hour passed until Bhaeshuidh completed his speech and dismissed the crowd. That was when he noticed the human slave, who was about to continue his work. The flonn nudged his gnide carriers to move over to the column the slave was currently working on, and examined it with expert eyes.“Excellent work as always,” the ruler commended.  He was using the Common tongue now, with little indication that he was a not a native speaker of that language. “May you do as excellent work in the future, such as in the city that will soon be in our control.”The slave bowed deep, and remained silent. If Bhaeshuidh wanted him to talk, he would say so. “You might have understood a few bits of what I said. I am currently manipulating the surroundings of a flind city, secretly supplying a gnoll tribe and a gnide band with some ability to resist that city's ruler.” Bhaeshuidh's eyes wandered further over the columns. “Ah, you have outdone yourself, slave. I grant you two questions, which I will answer. Speak.”Without raising his head, the human slave asked his first question. “My lord, why do you not simply visit the city and take control of it this way?” – “It is quite simple. Despite their natural loyalty, my subjects require battle to remain content. By manipulation to start a war, I fulfill this requirement.” – “And what is your reason to expand into other cities and nations?” – “Because they are there.”</blockquote>

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