OOC: Wow, sorry guys. Looked like I missed quite a bit.

IC:

I handed the bag to Zalphon, and I got an uneasy sense in my stomach as I saw the all-too-familiar look of bloodlust in the eyes of the young Ashkhan. His red-tinted eyes creeped back over to the messenger. He had a manic look to his royal face; of someone who was about to do something terrible. I heard the Ashkhan yell something, but I disregarded it, too lost in the heat of the moment.

"Restrain him!" Zalphon's demands were accomplished almost instantaneously; two very large Dunmer Gulakhan - I guessed they were Gulakhan, for their size and stature - stepped forward and help the poor bastard down. "Please, Ashkhan! Listen to me, this will do nothing for the Zainab! It is a smirch on the honor of the clan to kill innocents!" To defy the Ashkhan's order was foolish of me indeed, but I couldn't just stand by... No, there had to be another way; my master is mad! I began to doubt the Zainab way of life; I began to doubt if I was on the right side of the war.

Brandishing his knife, Zalphon sliced open the belly of the wretch, and brought the forager up to the opening. I began to cringe as I realized what the mad man was doing. My master, as I had deeply hoped wouldn't happen, urged the creature into the stomach of the messenger. Howling bloody rage, his muscles pulled and stretched against the Dunmer generals, but to no avail. Zalphon closed the incision with what looked like magic, and stood. "This is what we will do to all Imperial scum on Zainab lands, this kwama will eat its way out of this man."

Vomit began to lurk its way up the back of my throat, but I pushed it back down, my eyes watering furiously. Wiping my face, I burst out of the Yurt, and fell to my knees. A new strength began to inch its way into me; the strength of anger. I snarled and hawked up a wad of mucus. Rising, I swiveled to face the yurt. Pushing down my inner instincts, I, with much difficulty, resisted the urge to speak back against injustice. It was a hard thing to do, and something that has and will forever scar my being.

Back inside the Yurt, I scratched my red eyes and resumed my place by my master. "I apologize, Ashkhan. I found myself in a moment of weakness. It shalln't happen again, lord." I brought my arm up in a brisk salute.

EDIT: Aw, beat me to it.

The Dunmer Ashlander stared into his newest Gulakhan and said calmly, "A moment of weakness... A Gulakhan is not weak, shall you accept punishment for not assisting in my orders?"

The Ashkhan had a hint of anger in his eyes, but there was also much dissapointment. On his young face it showed no emotion, completely calm, but he was ready to give out punishment.

He added, "If you are, let me know, if not leave Zainab lands, you will be exiled."

I hadn't realized the repercussions that would be thrown at me because of my behavior; the Ashkhan threatened me with exile and other punishment; I looked him in the eyes. I felt foolish for bowing to the youth. He is a very hard, cold man, I speculated. "I... My lord, I accept any punishment; I meant no disrespect. My views on your actions differ from your own; it's only human," I winced, as I had just given the Ashlander a new reason to berate me, that I was human and him Dunmer; that he had given me the opportunity to be Gulakhan. I sighed. "Ashkhan, any punishment you see is necessary I shall attend. I hadn't realized the nature of my actions; I was blinded by human emotions. You must forgive me, as I am not a Dunmer. I am only human."

I felt wrong, bowing to the man, and submitting myself. But such was the Dunmer culture, I suppose. Complete and utter respect of the Ashkhan was required at all times if you're a Gulakhan, I hadn't realized this before, when before I had been a friend, somewhat of an equal. Now I was his subordinate, and his to control. I frowned upon my accepting of the position, if I hadn't none of this would happen.

Zalphon had a caring look as he said to the nordic hybrid, "You passed the test, a gulakhan must accept punishment, I would never punish any of my clan for fear, the only reason I would punish my clan with such a harsh punishment is if we had a traitor in the mists."

My newest Gulakhan is brave, and am proud to have him with us.

Zalphon patted the Imperial-Nord Hybrid on the shoulder and said kindly, "Courage is a great feat, spirit is a great feat, but heart is stronger than both, and the ancestors and I sense much of it in you."

He opened a large chest behind him and pulled out a necklace, made of bone, and hanging on it was a piece of bone inscribed with runes meaning, 'Ancestor's Watch Over This One', he handed it to the youngest gulakhan and said, "This is a good-luck charm of my people, may you wear it with pride."

As Karrul finished off the last of his Sujamma, he heard a rather disgusting sound, and saw Tarick stumble out of the Ashkans tent and fall to his knees. He quickly rushed back in, and Karrul's mind came to the only logical conclusion. That they did something horrible to the messenger with the kwama. He was answered rather quickly with the messenger's cries and him stumbling out into the village. Walking up and kneeling quietly by the man he said to him quietly, "May the Nine Bless you, and may you find peace."
Man, I'm terrible ashlander. What type of ashlander worships the Nine?
Shrugging off the incident, Karrul went too the Ashkans yourt.
"Ashkan, I assume that the messenger carried a message of war? If so, I would be honored to do some scouting on the surrounding regions. Wouldn't want an army sneaking up on us."

OOC: Sorry for the ooc but could you possibly post my character sheet up Forrest? I usually copy it before I send it and post it later. Something came up and I couldn't get around to it. It'd help out a bit. Thanks in advance.


IC:

Iakan stretched out and yawned as the sun gleamed in through the windows of his cottage. He'd passed out earlier that morning and estimated it to be near noon as he stood clumsily and made his way to the window. It was beginning to sprinkle in the West Gash -- perfect whether to hike to Caldera.

The nix should be buried deep in their pits away from the rain.

The usual consumption of time passed as he geared up and made his way outside, grabbing a half-eaten sweetroll from the table and gnawing down on it before he'd gotten too far from his home. His boots sloshed through the damp grass, kicking up puddled water and flinging it a few feet ahead of him. This kept Iakan busy as he beat down the worn trail towards the closest social environment in Caldera. He'd need to scrounge up a few drakes to travel to Sadrith Mora. This was as close to the Zainab as he could get in wanting to spend so few of his earnings. He'd blown so much of it gambling and was finding his resources insufficient. "Maybe I should just kill the Ashkan and be done with it." he spoke to no one inparticular. His mind was set solely on delivering the Dunmer a quick blow to kill him and returning to the Eastwood company to collect his reward. "Bah. I'm being irrational. Surely he'd be somewhat protected... I've heard his gulakhan isn't even Dunmer born." Iakan frowned at his own comment and continued his ranting. "The fools aren't even recruiting from our own blood. They'll poison tradition"

He stopped in his tracks, chuckled to himself and continued on. "All the better reason to just kill him."
Iakan smiled at this thought as he reached a familiar bend in the road.

Ah, good. Almost there.

Zalphon exitted his yurt and shouted, "Men, get ready, after we found this imperial scum on our lands, we will fight tonight."

He added, "Women, stay here, we need food and bandages."

His charisma was vibrant, but he still had a bit naiveness to him as he barked, "And most of all be prepared, tonight we will patrol these lands and cut them down, you will stay in groups of 10, the gulakhans shall remain with me."

He entered his yurt and relayed the news to the gulakhans.

I found myself beaming with pride at the Ashkhan's words, accepting the necklace of what seemed to be bone with fervor. "Thank you, my lord. I understand, now." I said, bowing quickly and resuming position along with the other Dunmeri Gulakhan. I stood straighter, more sure, than I had before. My mind was drawn to the messenger, whose body had already been taken care of. I swallowed the anguish and accepted my roll in the war.

ooc: Finally, the Mercs turn!

ic: Louis watched nervously while the messenger was inside the yurt, he waited and waited, then after that he waited some more. Eventually, a man abrubtly exited the yert. The messenger? No, this one dresses just like these savages.

After waiting some more, everyone had left the yurt, including the Ashkahn. Just what Louis feared had happened, the messenger was slaughtered by these primitive monsters. Louis began to panick as he now knew that they were killing outsiders. Louis stood up and sprinted away from the camp. Shortly he was a good distance away from the Zaniab camp and closer to Bash's camp.

When he arrived at the camp he was breathing heavily. He approached an officer he recognized. "Where is Bash?

"On top of the hill, to the east."

Louis nodded in thanks and took off running again. When Louis finally reached Bash he stopped and bent over, catching his breath.

Without turning around Bash grunted at the young scout, "Judging that you're here and the messenger isn't, I assume they killed the messenger."

"That is corr..." Louis began.

"Did I ask you to speak?" Bash shouted as he turned around and struck the scout with the back of his hand, causing him to fall over. Bash, not caring what he just did, stepped on the young mans chest as he walked away. Let the blood shed.