The number's game|Fara, Reave

[adris]

Dio had recieved some delicious news while he was visiting the legion staging area in the beastlands, news of a group of storms setting up in defiance of the law of the homeland. He knew he could profit from this, either the storms wanting to break the back of thier government, or the slaves wishing to break the bonds of thier captures. Either way he has found a tool and just needs to figure out how to best use it.

"Critias, Terezia, follow me, the rest of you know that I am in a good mood. Feast to you're hearts content. I have the means to get more, just don't lose you're legs."

Terezia steps forward and follows Dio to the little town of Ekaitz. If there are enough present here they may just get a boost in the numbers necessary to make thier force into an army. The strong recruits, the prison break, the several wanton criminals that were looking for a way out. The most noticable addition to the group are a couple clears that were arrested during an anonymous attack on Humontis during the clear wars, recently granted amnesty of course.

[aivea]

Critias nods and follows Dio, though the Wind seems more tense than usual at first as they draw closer to the village of slavers. He keeps quiet and quickly decides to hide that being around slaver Storms causes a bit of anxiety; an anxiety that he would call self-preservation if it's asked about. However, it would take a lot of effort to see through the guise of calm that he puts up after the first few seconds.

He absent-mindly tugs on one sleeve of his shirt, unable to cover the sign on his elbow with the short sleeve but not really trying too hard.

"You there! Wind brat!" calls one of the slavers, looking straight at Critias. After a few seconds, the slaver adds, "Can't you hear a blasted thing?!"

"What makes you think I'd answer to 'Wind Brat'?" the Variable Wind replies, clenching his fists in annoyence.

"Because you're going to be my slave and I can call you whatever I like!"

[adris]

Dio wastes no time with the man, he raises his hand and slaps him across the face with all the force he can muster in such a quick swing. There was a fire in his eye, nobody calls one of his men slaves. Nobody threatens the legion, he might not be pleasent to the rest of the world but any member of the legion deserves highest respect.

"Make me forget you said that knave. Tell whoever is in charge here of my presence and I am none to happy that you insulted us. I have a proposal for them."

Terezia stood at the ready in case the slaver tried anything. She is sure that Dio would be happy telling the leader himself if a quick slit of the jugular was necessary. Dio was hoping for attack somewhere in the back of his mind, a war would get the legion in shape for greater things.

[aivea]

The slaver growls at Dio but walks away to tell Mathew.

Critias glares at the Storm's retreating back then gives Dio an almost grateful glance. Granted the glance only lasted for a split second but even that might have been long enough to notice. He crosses his arms and waits for the slaver to return with the leader of Ekaitz.

[Northen Light36]

Mathew approaches calmly, though one hand rests lightly on the hilt of his sword. "Welcome strangers to Ekaitz," he calls. "I am Mathew of House Melissan and leader of this village. Would you be so kind as to inform me of your business here?"

[adris]

Dio smiled, he was unarmed, mostly because he was an elemental fighter. He wasn't one for displays of peace. He replied to the man with a sure grin on his face.

"Quite an operation you have here. I actually have a group of people who hold the same distaste for the powers that be as you do. My buisiness is perhaps an alliance that will benefit us both."

He never asked for an introduction so the man isn't going to get one. Dio needent answer to this fool, his power is nothing but false. He wanted to laugh at the very existence of this village at times, the result of the biggest hissy fit in Naruta history.

[Northen Light36]

"And what would this 'alliance' do to benefit my people?" Mathew asks, running a distainful eye over Dio and his people.

[adris]

Dio smiled brightly, he was as sure of himself as he was when he was standing in the senate. Untouchable, powerful, he holds the cards that could tip the future of the world any direction he wants, he just has to play them right.

"A standing army of course. One with goals and ambitions that agree with you're own, albeit on a much larger scale. In return, we ask for housing, thats it, I already have supplies taken care of for the men and women of the legion."

And we of course get numbers and he will get say in all military operations the legion takes part in. This he dosn't include though, he has the power to give and the power to take away. All he asks for is a little cooperation.

[aivea]

Critias takes the oportuninty to take a better look at his surroundings and gives the slaves a look of contempt. "I might share their Element but don't expect me to start giving the slaves ideas. Anyone weak or stupid enough to be enslaved deserves it," he remarks, half-thinking that the knowledge that the slaves wouldn't be given ideas would effect what was said next. Returning to the subject, he adds, "You won't have to go out of your way when finding somewhere that would be acceptable to let us stay. Having the chance to expand your opperation and more support against those who you consider your enemies is worth it, hm?"

[Northen Light36]

Mathew frowns, considering the options. "I will grant you land to build on, but that is all. And it'll cost you two silver a season, per household," he says at last. "If you want slaves, you may buy them or catch your own. You'll have to take care of your own supplies as well."

[adris]

Dio clicked his tongue and shrugged his shoulders. That is his choice then, to become a landlord. One does not force a soldier to pay for his household. A military houses soldiers, arms them, feeds them, and the leader of the legion isn't even asking for any of that.

"Very well, I am not a person to give more then is worth. Critias, we are leaving, a man that only looks to the past is more blind then one without eyes."

It is his loss if he wants to see his town fall, the leaders of the world will not stand for its existance far too long, especially not if there is a peace period coming up and they can turn thier eyes to personal affairs and the law rather then the world collapsing around thier ears.

[Northen Light36]

Mathew just watches uncaringly, waiting for the group to leave so he can get back to ruling his town. He'd honestly expected his offer to drive the group off and was pleased it had. An army that answered to a man other then himself was as foolish as releasing a poisonious snake into your house. Sooner or later you'd be bitten.

[aivea]

"all right then," Critias replies to Dio and turns to begin walking away.

"Tsk, tsk... Such a fool he is, turning down the future for the past. I suppose it's true some people only have eyes when they can chose what they see."