Video - Seelie Only

[red_branch]

[Popping up on the locket, Lancer glanced over a map off-screen, jotting things onto it with charcoal. He realized he might have turned on the locket too soon, pausing in what he was writing so he could look up. Seated in the middle of a lush, green plain, he conducted himself with an immense air of boredom that bordered on slowly falling asleep to one's complete and mortal end. He was impatient, though fortunately, it hadn't quite shown, yet. He simply looked tired.]

Alright, so... It's been pretty slow out in the fields. Courtesy to you, Princess Grainne, your hunch wasn't entirely incorrect. It's an issue of what defines an army, I think--which is where I should drop some information:

[He pulled up his map a little to look it over, but it was largely still out of sight of the camera. The only indication he was reading something had been the rustling of the fabric he carried.]

I've found a few camps in a location I'm not going to name or describe quite yet, if only because it wouldn't be fair those of us who don't do odd things like reporting to both sides.

[There was a dismissive wave of the hand. Lancer didn't really care on a moral basis--this was just a competition to him. Still, he didn't like to waste chances when it came to allies. He was bent out of shape about something and wanted to fix a few problems to alleviate that.]

The long and short of it is, I had a fun time watching ambitious hunters get turned into woodland creatures during the hunt and I think you all may be due for some education.

If anyone's willing, I'd like to use this chance to teach you folks how to sneak around and do a little spying and if we fish up anything that sounds dangerous, maybe turn this into a skirmish to take or secure territory for ourselves.

(OOC: The area in question is the southern border of Dorchadas(Caer Scima's main territory. Think Cathraon's northern side!))

Comments

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[sangilak]

[ wow she feels like this is totally a personal attack on her because she got turned into a chipmunk (even though she's fully aware that there's no possible way lancer knows that) so of course she's going to poutpoutpout. ]

I'm perfectly fine at sneaking and hunting, *thank you*.

[ korra pls. ]

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[red_branch]

[Korra. Even if Lancer were as slow and absent-minded as he tended to act, that little realization didn't slip by him even for a second.

Why else would she get defensive?]

...So, what'd you get turned into?

[He didn't know, but he knew how to fish. One cast bait to try and lure it into the right spot--]

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[sangilak]

[ lancer can fish all he wants, korra's not going to bite, not after what happened with merida, jack and mako. ]

A great big hulking bear capable of biting your head off.

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[red_branch]

I'm sure you're a beautiful bear, all the same. [Don't flirt with the bear don't flirt with the bear]

So. Should I be signing you up for anything? When you stop being a bear, anyway.

[Like a confession!?]

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[sangilak]

[ KJSDLHFJSDF ]

You don't need to sign me up for anything! I'm perfectly capable of being sneaky!

[ actually, korra... when you're hunting, sure. when you're doing your avatar business, well... ]

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[sangilak]

Oh, and by the way, you're the LAST person who should be talking about reporting to both sides.

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[red_branch]

Ahhh!? [That was a surprising thing to hear. It seemed as if Korra needed the talk! The weird Irish hero talk, at least.]

What're you goin' on about?

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[sangilak]

Does "Merida" ring a bell?

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[red_branch]

[A brow rose at that. Weird.]

Ah, yeah. A fiery princess, at that, and well within my likin'.

Somethin' the matter with her?

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[sangilak]

What? No!

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[sangilak]

Unless YOU think there should be...

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[red_branch]

Tcch. You're sayin' weird things. What, am I supposed to dislike her 'cause she's Unseelie?

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[red_branch]

I don't subscribe to that whole 'enemy of my ally' thing. I fight who I want for whatever reason I want. Merida ain't one such person.

If I like someone well enough, I outright refuse to fight 'em. Solais would get my black mark if she ordered me to go beyond that.

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[wild_goose]

Alright, let's what you have to teach mon ami.

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[red_branch]

Lookin' for lessons--or, maybe a refresher? [This guy didn't look quite so young, so he couldn't assume he was totally inexperienced.]

Course, I'd like to know your specialties first, pal.

[dated dec 17th] [like when she has her locket back] [video]

[athousandcurses]

[Here is Grainne, looking out of sorts, dirty and mussed, and, despite that her face is carefully crafted into a smile, there was a definite air of disgruntlement about her. That is only one of a number of red flags, though. Ones, if Diarmuid were around, he would surely warn the poor hound of before she had a chance to unleash her scorn.

Her voice is dripping with sarcasm as only an irate princess from Eire could inject... now that Cu Chulainn may be more familiar with...]

Oh, not entirely incorrect, is it?

I traipsed about the woods for two weeks with those cu sith on my heels [Not... the whole time but she's not going to be saying it,] for not entirely incorrect information. If my heart could be any more relieved it would burst, surely.

I am so very proud and pleased my not entirely incorrect effort helped you in such a grand way, Lord Hound.

Shall I sniff out yet more rumors and whispers for you to investigate, my Lord Hound? It would not be right letting such hands as yours sit idle.

[Watch it... she might geis him yet.

Although, most of her ire doesn't really stem from his words, but rather the events of the last several weeks. The outburst is likely to be the only one, and once she lets her anger ebb will likely ask for forgiveness. Stress can do bad things to a girl.]

[red_branch]

[Oh, he was good at dealing with anger. Some folks would cow to it, but he certainly rose to the challenge and with nothing short of an air of amusement.]

You were not incorrect, but you were not entirely accurate. There are soldiers in those woods and plenty of them, but nothing you could properly call an army. It's important to make that distinction.

[He crossed his arms and looked over the feed, matching Grainne's look with one of indifference. He knew what it was like to feel belittled, but he was certain that rewarding Grainne's information with excessive credit wouldn't have done her any reward.

Knowing there wasn't a giant army on their borders should have been plenty rewarding as it was.]

Think of it as simply as this: Were you fully correct and a large army were in rest, looking to attack the castle, I would have a few courses of action to take. I would first have to send word to Solais that there was a large contingency and I would then have to intercept it, so I could keep it held back long enough for reinforcements.

[He raised one hand at that, his index finger pointing at the sky.] You'll notice I haven't had the need to do that--because, the forces present don't constitute a full army that would require a real military response. So--

You won't hear an apology from me. I'm relieved there isn't an army, which is how you should feel as well. about. It deserves monitoring, but nothing more than that right now. Now, it's unfortunate that you've had folks on your heels, but you never once requested aid or any form of intercepting assistance.

[athousandcurses]

I did say that there were more than one trail, Lord Hound. I would not be surprised if there were many more similar splits. Are you sure that you have spotted all of them?

[All her ire melted, simply for the fact she didn't have the energy to keep it up.]

And what if Morla is following the same path she did before? Did you not find many camps around Cothromach?

[And she is going to ignore that bit because she would have rather trekked home than ask Lancelot for help after that last exchange. She has her pride after all.]

[red_branch]

A crowd of a hundred soldiers marching in decent file can be mistaken for a thousand, depending on the plains. That's why folks need to scout all sides of a formation before they report back.

[Which was why he took so long. Lancer had double-checked plain after plain, from the roads all the way to the center of Nimh Gleane and Cathraon, over and over. He didn't go in hoping to find nothing, after all. He wanted the opposite--for it to be fun.]

If Morla were to run through Cothromach a second time or if she had forces still hiding out in those mountains, it wouldn't be much of a concern, anyway. Any forces hiding out in those mountains would doom themselves to starvation trying to keep secret. With security heightened in that area, they'll only run into more problems than not. Regularly posted guards could handle breaking news for that kind of thing.

So, that location isn't the biggest concern. It's a strategic point worthy of concern, but it's more likely the forces you describe are scouting groups of their own and they're looking for a place to make into a proper base. In which case--simply keeping them isolated should sabotage them. If they retreat because no one else can get through to them, then we know that's why they were there.

[athousandcurses]

[Grainne lets out a sigh, betraying a hint of exhaustion behind it. She isn't experienced enough in these matters to argue any further.]

If you have the Queen's ear, please ask her not to send me on such quests again.

[red_branch]

I could try to bribe her, but...

Why don't you present to her your regular skillsets, instead? Were this a discussion of magic, you would have cleared whatever obstacles she set for you with relative ease.

[athousandcurses]

Because I can survive in the wild for a time does not mean I wish to...

[Grainne tilts her head, the exhaustion creeping into her face.]

I am not all that skilled in magic.

[And she isn't even arguing about his assumption it was about her skills. There's something very wrong with the usually spunky lady.]

[red_branch]

It's no good to lie, Princess. Even if you don't realize it.

[Spoken vows that bound knights the second they were spoken--it was an art that wasn't entirely rare in his age, but anyone capable of speaking strong words like those in Grainne's age could be considered powerful by no shortage of means.

He might have seemed to be the flattering type, but even Lancer would simply describe that capability as 'scary'.]

[athousandcurses]

W-what?

[Grainne tries to rouse herself.]

How am I lying?

[red_branch]

It's the mark of a clever woman to have such fine control over geis. You've already saved me once with such a thing, after all.

[So, he sighed. It was clear that Grainne had less faith in herself than he anticipated, but at that rate it was atrocious.]

Scathach once told me--there's nothing more painful to see than an unpolished gem.

I'll polish you properly and make sure you see where your potential brings you. The next time we meet, I'll alleviate my stress and teach you something good.