Confronting Lam|Clan Poldora, Beastlands

[Toyoll]

Faolan was walking along a trail that led to Poldora, the village itself was very near. The Clan Leader walked on his hind legs, tall and imposing. He could spy the warriors gathering at the entrance of the clan under the fierce mid-day sun. It was eerily quiet as the Wolf type and the vicious General of Beleg approached the village.

[Kender Bard]

A few of the beast types, not immediately recognizing Faolan, snarled at him. This was quickly corrected from hasty whispers, and those that were out of place quickly fell back in line. The lioness-affinity gave a growl of contempt and kept about herself an air that suggest she felt like the queen of the beastlands, second only to Faolan.

[Toyoll]

Memories flooded back to the wolf as he approached the border of the village. It seemed like only yesterday that he was here to confront the leader of Poldora. The battle-hardened Faolan was slowly returning.

Once he reached the line of silent warriors, he moved along the ranks, as if inspecting them, with a snarl on his face. The Clan Leader stopped, then said, in a booming voice so that all could hear, "Well?" He paused. "Warriors, where might I find your General? Where is Lam of Poldora?" Faolan waited expectantly.

[Kender Bard]

One of the soldiers snaps off a sharp salute. This one is a young man of elk-affinity, though his horns were just starting to come in. "Pack Leader, Lam is in his favorite part of the woods with his many boars! We-we were not expecting you or we would have fetched him already."

[Toyoll]

Faolan rounded on the elk affinity and bore into his eyes with his cold, hard gaze. This was a wolf's specialty, a stare so meaningful and strong that makes even the bravest quiver. After a few excruciating moments, the Clan Leader spoke, without ever breaking his gaze, "Then what are you waiting for?"

Faolan winced inside, he never meant to be this aggressive towards him, but he needed to assert himself and display his strength to the younger warriors, for they have never met the Clan Leader. Better fix 'em now before they get any ideas....he thought.

[Kender Bard]

The elk type seems to hesitate.. but only a moment before turning and sprinting off to go fetch Lam. Tarja chuckles darkly near Faolan, obviously approving of his methods; and when one of the other recruits looks at her oddly, she snaps her teeth in his direction, causing him to go pale. Obviously, she was truly enjoying herself in this.

[Toyoll]

Faolan swatted the urge to shake his head disapprovingly. But deep inside, in the tiniest, most remote corners of his soul, he was beginning to enjoy himself. The wolf type could feel himself paling at the thought. He thanked the Forces for blessing him with fur...

The beast elemental guessed that it was natural for him to find some kind of amusement in this. He was raised in Beleg, after all. And his primordial instincts, his animal half, relished the power, the control. At least, that's what he told himself.

[Kender Bard]

Before long, the elk type returned, hiding his limp - apparently Lam wasn't pleased to see him. Escorted by three wild boars, Lam approaches with a slow, easy gait and a sharp eye. Though he's hiding it well, he's worried as to why Faolan would summon him.

[Toyoll]

As the boar affinity approached, the Clan Leader had to suppress a snarl. He only just managed to hold it back.

"Lam..", Faolan said with quiet contempt. "I have come to discuss some matters concerning the mind elemental I sent to you." The venom in his voice surprised even himself. He drew himself up, giving the general his most vicious and dangerous look. The wolf type motioned to the Beleg leader, "Tarja Lionsclaw has....graciously escorted me to Poldora. Let's not keep the lady waiting now, Lam. Some privacy and refreshments would be much apreaciated..." He said this in a cold and disdainful tone.

This was more to annoy the boar type more than actual hunger.

[Kender Bard]

"Ah yes, I'm absolutely famished," Tarja purred in a dark tone. Lam could already feel the sweat starting to bead his brow and hastily beckoned the other leaders into his own home.

[Toyoll]

Faolan stepped into the hut, not even sparing Lam a glance, but was gracious enough not to sit down uninvited. He watched the general closely. He reeked of fear and was wondering if the boar type was aware of it. The wolf affinity let his gaze wonder to a low table by his feat. He picked up the bone knife that was resting on the it's surface and flipped it around in his paws.

The Clan Leader was intentionally stretching the silence, pushing it as far as it would go. He then looked up from inspecting the knife. "...Lam, are you currently aware of the situation with the Clears?" Faolan put the tool down and paced around the table, flicking his tail from side to side. "It would seem...that there is a war that looms on the horizon, or rather, we have a war on the horizon..."

He stoped walking and turned to face Lam. He was at least a head shorter than the massive wolf, but he looked him square in the eyes anyhow, daring him to say otherwise. "..And you plan to do nothing?"

[Kender Bard]

Lam gathered his nerve and stood a little taller, peering with beady eyes past his tusks at his leader. "Maybe, maybe not," the general conceded. "But any threat that comes at us, we can handle without outside help."

[Toyoll]

Faolan shook his muzzle, annoyed, "We are not asking for help, Lam, we are simply defending the Beastlands. It just happens that we aren't the only ones targeted. Any warlord would see that the Clears could easily beat us if we attacked in separate factions. It would be much safer and much more successful if we had the support of all the elementals. If we agree to join them, Lam, we could stand a chance at defeating the Clears once and for all." Faolan bore into the eyes of the general, "Think about it. We could be left in peace, to do what we please without fear of attack."

He glanced at Tarja for her support.

[Kender Bard]

Tarja just shrugs and nods. For now, she wants to see how Lam will handle Faolan.

Lam shrinks under Faolan's gaze, but then bolsters himself back up again. "What's the point of joining a war effort when the other elementals will give nothing back? I asked the Mind type to give us some of his people to secure our borders, and they refused."

[Toyoll]

Faolan hung his head in exasperation, time to change tactic...

"Lam, do you have such little faith in our people? We are Beasts, we can defend our own borders. If there is a shortage of men, we can always swell our numbers three-fold if we call on our animal brothers. What better guards are there than the stag or the puma? And what better scouts are there than the hawk or the owl? Besides, I can always get the Guards of Seere to protect our borders. They aren't accustomed to front-line battle, they specialize in defense, so they will be a perfect choice."

The Leader smirked darkly and whispered to Tarja, "And we can not deny Beleg the spoils of war..."