Sobek: "Who are you, and what are you doing in my swamp?!"
Lyn: "Please identify yourself, sir or ma'am!"
*Whit laughs, however, one of his ears peak under the hood.*
Ah, tis no fun anymore if ye knew young un. But this good man here...
*He points to Sobek, then to Lyn.*
And you fine young rip, why your fighting tis disturbing the peace. I'd be an old man, an old man who needs his sleep. So...
*He quickly knocks a Lion warrior off his Speedorz and hops on. Whizzing through the crowd he randomly knocks unconscious warriors on both sides, laughing all the way.*
***
*From above, Eliaphet is scouting the terrain and a spear heads toward her...*
OOC: Lyn is a Lion Elder, BTW. She's 61.
IC: The lions and crocs quickly shake their unconscious soldiers awake.
Lyn: "What an odd wolf..."
Sobek: "Who does he answer to?! The Wolves are supposed to be our allies! Hmph, I'll ask Lobo about him later. I must deal with these intruders first!"
The Crocodiles resume their charge at the Lions.
Lion: "Lady Lyndis!"
A shield-bearing lion protects the Elder from a strike by Sobek.
Lion General: "The negotiations failed, ma'am. We need to get you out of here! Lions! Protect Lady Lyndis! Protect the stronghold!"
*Whit laughs, however, one of his ears peak under the hood.*
Ah, tis no fun anymore if ye knew young un. But this good man here...
*He points to Sobek, then to Lyn.*
And you fine young rip, why your fighting tis disturbing the peace. I'd be an old man, an old man who needs his sleep. So...
*He quickly knocks a Lion warrior off his Speedorz and hops on. Whizzing through the crowd he randomly knocks unconscious warriors on both sides, laughing all the way.*
***
*From above, Eliaphet is scouting the terrain and a spear heads toward her...*
OOC: Lyn is a Lion Elder, BTW. She's 61.
IC: The lions and crocs quickly shake their unconscious soldiers awake.
Lyn: "What an odd wolf..."
Sobek: "Who does he answer to?! The Wolves are supposed to be our allies! Hmph, I'll ask Lobo about him later. I must deal with these intruders first!"
The Crocodiles resume their charge at the Lions.
Lion: "Lady Lyndis!"
A shield-bearing lion protects the Elder from a strike by Sobek.
Lion General: "The negotiations failed, ma'am. We need to get you out of here! Lions! Protect Lady Lyndis! Protect the stronghold!"
All of a sudden, the air is rent by the sound of whirling blades and roaring engines, as no less than seven Helicroctors soar over the battlefield, coming from the east. Four are of the old design, that are often deployed from Comand Ships, but three are of the larger, more powerful variety. They circle overhead, as if searching for something - or someone - before flying towards the spot where the leaders of the two armies are.
Three of the vehicles drop lower than the others, weapons trained on Sobek and Lyndis. One of the Helicroctors lands a few metres away, forcing both Lions and Crocodiles to stagger backwards to avoid being crushed; four golden-armoured warriors leap out, wielding long spears. In one of the airborne machines, a loud voice booms through a loudspeaker: "Sobek, you will stand down your forces immediately! You are are under arrest for crimes against the Crocodile Tribe. This is a direct order: all Crocodiles stand down!"
IC: The lions and crocs quickly shake their unconscious soldiers awake.
Lyn: "What an odd wolf..."
Sobek: "Who does he answer to?! The Wolves are supposed to be our allies! Hmph, I'll ask Lobo about him later. I must deal with these intruders first!"
The Crocodiles resume their charge at the Lions.
Lion: "Lady Lyndis!"
A shield-bearing lion protects the Elder from a strike by Sobek.
Lion General: "The negotiations failed, ma'am. We need to get you out of here! Lions! Protect Lady Lyndis! Protect the stronghold!"
All of a sudden, the air is rent by the sound of whirling blades and roaring engines, as no less than seven Helicroctors soar over the battlefield, coming from the east. Four are of the old design, that are often deployed from Comand Ships, but three are of the larger, more powerful variety. They circle overhead, as if searching for something - or someone - before flying towards the spot where the leaders of the two armies are.
Three of the vehicles drop lower than the others, weapons trained on Sobek and Lyndis. One of the Helicroctors lands a few metres away, forcing both Lions and Crocodiles to stagger backwards to avoid being crushed; four golden-armoured warriors leap out, wielding long spears. In one of the airborne machines, a loud voice booms through a loudspeaker: "Sobek, you will stand down your forces immediately! You are are under arrest for crimes against the Crocodile Tribe. This is a direct order: all Crocodiles stand down!"
Sobek: "Under arrest?! This is bad comedy!"
The crocs under Sobek's command look back and forth from him to the new arrivals.
Croc: "Wait... Who do you crocs answer to?"
Lyn: "Well this is surprising. Are these crocodiles not aligned with Primordium?"
All of a sudden, the air is rent by the sound of whirling blades and roaring engines, as no less than seven Helicroctors soar over the battlefield, coming from the east. Four are of the old design, that are often deployed from Comand Ships, but three are of the larger, more powerful variety. They circle overhead, as if searching for something - or someone - before flying towards the spot where the leaders of the two armies are.
Three of the vehicles drop lower than the others, weapons trained on Sobek and Lyndis. One of the Helicroctors lands a few metres away, forcing both Lions and Crocodiles to stagger backwards to avoid being crushed; four golden-armoured warriors leap out, wielding long spears. In one of the airborne machines, a loud voice booms through a loudspeaker: "Sobek, you will stand down your forces immediately! You are are under arrest for crimes against the Crocodile Tribe. This is a direct order: all Crocodiles stand down!"
Sobek: "Under arrest?! This is bad comedy!"
The crocs under Sobek's command look back and forth from him to the new arrivals.
Croc: "Wait... Who do you crocs answer to?"
Lyn: "Well this is surprising. Are these crocodiles not aligned with Primordium?"
Lyn's forces halt and watch to see what happens.
"This is no comedy, Sobek," calls an old, grizzled Croc in ceremonial military uniform, striding out of the landed Helicroctor. "I have here a warrant for your immediate arrest. You have been found guilty on multiple charges: the murder of the crocodile warrior Cogar, assault and bodily harm against your brother Crocs, assault and bodily harm against Ravens under diplomatic protection, aiding in revolutionary activities, and treason against His Majesty King Crogar."
The old Croc brandishes the warrant aloft so that all the Crocs can see the charges against Sobek. Beneath the charges is a large cricle of green wax, imprinted with a seal in the shape of a crocodile's head. Beside it is a short signature in a curving, elegant script: "C Regina".
The crocs under Sobek's command look back and forth from him to the new arrivals.
Croc: "Wait... Who do you crocs answer to?"
Lyn: "Well this is surprising. Are these crocodiles not aligned with Primordium?"
Lyn's forces halt and watch to see what happens.
"This is no comedy, Sobek," calls an old, grizzled Croc in ceremonial military uniform, striding out of the landed Helicroctor. "I have here a warrant for your immediate arrest. You have been found guilty on multiple charges: the murder of the crocodile warrior Cogar, assault and bodily harm against your brother Crocs, assault and bodily harm against Ravens under diplomatic protection, aiding in revolutionary activities, and treason against His Majesty King Crogar."
The old Croc brandishes the warrant aloft so that all the Crocs can see the charges against Sobek. Beneath the charges is a large cricle of green wax, imprinted with a seal in the shape of a crocodile's head. Beside it is a short signature in a curving, elegant script: "C Regina".
Sobek: "Wha— Crogar is alive?!"
The other crocodiles start to turn on Sobek.
Sobek: "Wait, I am your king now! Did Crogar not disappear when the Sabertoothes attacked?! Did I not evacuate you all from Black Fang Mountain and lead you back to our homeland in his absence?! That could be a forged signature! These crocs are trying to deceive you! I demand proof that the former King and Queen are alive!"
Croc: "Wait, that's right! You are that rogue croc who'd attacked the Ravens during those negotiations! I'd forgotten your face while being frozen for so long, Sobek!"
The other Crocs shout in agreement, while the Lions slowly back away and retreat to their northern stronghold to watch what happens from afar.
"This is no comedy, Sobek," calls an old, grizzled Croc in ceremonial military uniform, striding out of the landed Helicroctor. "I have here a warrant for your immediate arrest. You have been found guilty on multiple charges: the murder of the crocodile warrior Cogar, assault and bodily harm against your brother Crocs, assault and bodily harm against Ravens under diplomatic protection, aiding in revolutionary activities, and treason against His Majesty King Crogar."
The old Croc brandishes the warrant aloft so that all the Crocs can see the charges against Sobek. Beneath the charges is a large cricle of green wax, imprinted with a seal in the shape of a crocodile's head. Beside it is a short signature in a curving, elegant script: "C Regina".
Sobek: "Wha— Crogar is alive?!"
The other crocodiles start to turn on Sobek.
Sobek: "Wait, I am your king now! Did Crogar not disappear when the Sabertoothes attacked?! Did I not evacuate you all from Black Fang Mountain and lead you back to our homeland in his absence?! That could be a forged signature! These crocs are trying to deceive you! I demand proof that the former King and Queen are alive!"
Croc: "Wait, that's right! You are that rogue croc who'd attacked the Ravens during those negotiations! I'd forgotten your face while being frozen for so long, Sobek!"
The other Crocs shout in agreement, while the Lions slowly back away and retreat to their northern stronghold to watch what happens from afar.
"This is no comedy, Sobek," calls an old, grizzled Croc in ceremonial military uniform, striding out of the landed Helicroctor. "I have here a warrant for your immediate arrest. You have been found guilty on multiple charges: the murder of the crocodile warrior Cogar, assault and bodily harm against your brother Crocs, assault and bodily harm against Ravens under diplomatic protection, aiding in revolutionary activities, and treason against His Majesty King Crogar."
The old Croc brandishes the warrant aloft so that all the Crocs can see the charges against Sobek. Beneath the charges is a large cricle of green wax, imprinted with a seal in the shape of a crocodile's head. Beside it is a short signature in a curving, elegant script: "C Regina".
Sobek: "Wha— Crogar is alive?!"
The other crocodiles start to turn on Sobek.
Sobek: "Wait, I am your king now! Did Crogar not disappear when the Sabertoothes attacked?! Did I not evacuate you all from Black Fang Mountain and lead you back to our homeland in his absence?! That could be a forged signature! These crocs are trying to deceive you! I demand proof that the former King and Queen are alive!"
Croc: "Wait, that's right! You are that rogue croc who'd attacked the Ravens during those negotiations! I'd forgotten your face while being frozen for so long, Sobek!"
The other Crocs shout in agreement, while the Lions slowly back away and retreat to their northern stronghold to watch what happens from afar.
"Proof?" Another voice cuts through the noise of the crowd, feminine but commanding. A sixth Croc emerges from the landed transport, an imperious woman in gold, green and silver armour and helm, a sword hanging from her belt and a striking purple cloak flowing behind her. The woman strides towards Sobek, tearing off her helmet.
"You want proof, traitor? Here you have it."
Queen Carina stares at the usurper with an expression of disdain and cold fury. "How dare you? How dare you? You, who rebelled against your brothers and sisters! You, who smashed the brave warrior Cogar! You, who betrayed your tribe, now stand in the Swamp, daring to show your face here?"
Sobek: "Wait, I am your king now! Did Crogar not disappear when the Sabertoothes attacked?! Did I not evacuate you all from Black Fang Mountain and lead you back to our homeland in his absence?! That could be a forged signature! These crocs are trying to deceive you! I demand proof that the former King and Queen are alive!"
Croc: "Wait, that's right! You are that rogue croc who'd attacked the Ravens during those negotiations! I'd forgotten your face while being frozen for so long, Sobek!"
The other Crocs shout in agreement, while the Lions slowly back away and retreat to their northern stronghold to watch what happens from afar.
"Proof?" Another voice cuts through the noise of the crowd, feminine but commanding. A sixth Croc emerges from the landed transport, an imperious woman in gold, green and silver armour and helm, a sword hanging from her belt and a striking purple cloak flowing behind her. The woman strides towards Sobek, tearing off her helmet.
"You want proof, traitor? Here you have it."
Queen Carina stares at the usurper with an expression of disdain and cold fury. "How dare you? How dare you? You, who rebelled against your brothers and sisters! You, who smashed the brave warrior Cogar! You, who betrayed your tribe, now stand in the Swamp, daring to show your face here?"
Sobek: "...Oh, there's the Queen. Dang, this isn't going well. Eh, it was nice while it lasted."
Sobek jumps backward and throws a fire chi smoke grenade to his feet, clouding the area. He dives into a river leading to the West Sea, and crocs swim after him.
~Elsewhere~ Lyn watches this from a telescope at the top of the Lions' tower.
Lyn: "So Sobek was not the true successor to the Crocs' throne. That... actually explains a lot. We'll need to see if this Queen has anything to do with Primordium, though it doesn't seem like she does."
Lyn has lions radio Lycor to tell him about what's happened here.
"Proof?" Another voice cuts through the noise of the crowd, feminine but commanding. A sixth Croc emerges from the landed transport, an imperious woman in gold, green and silver armour and helm, a sword hanging from her belt and a striking purple cloak flowing behind her. The woman strides towards Sobek, tearing off her helmet.
"You want proof, traitor? Here you have it."
Queen Carina stares at the usurper with an expression of disdain and cold fury. "How dare you? How dare you? You, who rebelled against your brothers and sisters! You, who smashed the brave warrior Cogar! You, who betrayed your tribe, now stand in the Swamp, daring to show your face here?"
Sobek: "...Oh, there's the Queen. Dang, this isn't going well. Eh, it was nice while it lasted."
Sobek jumps backward and throws a fire chi smoke grenade to his feet, clouding the area. He dives into a river leading to the West Sea, and crocs swim after him.
~Elsewhere~ Lyn watches this from a telescope at the top of the Lions' tower.
Lyn: "So Sobek was not the true successor to the Crocs' throne. That... actually explains a lot. We'll need to see if this Queen has anything to do with Primordium, though it doesn't seem like she does."
Lyn has lions radio Lycor to tell him about what's happened here.
Lycor: "So the plan to get Sobek out of the picture didn't exactly work out... Well, it seems he won't be leading the Crocs from here on anyhow. Change of plans: have all our forces leave the Crocodile Swamp. The region isn't very useful to us anymore as it is, and our continued claim there will only cause us unnecessary conflicts. The only reason I had you stay there was to lead Sobek into a trap, but that clearly won't be happening. Now, listen closely...
The Lions pack up everything they had here, and leave the Croc Swamp. The only trace left of the Lion Tribe here is the stronghold they built in the north.
{JAMMERS! -Chima Alliance- ONLY!} Before leaving the fortress, the Lions plant fire chi bombs into the walls and floors; the bombs will be automatically activated under certain conditions. A small force of Lions stays behind, and they go into the old tunnels the Republic of the Claw had dug beneath the Croc, Wolf, and Eagle territories.
"Proof?" Another voice cuts through the noise of the crowd, feminine but commanding. A sixth Croc emerges from the landed transport, an imperious woman in gold, green and silver armour and helm, a sword hanging from her belt and a striking purple cloak flowing behind her. The woman strides towards Sobek, tearing off her helmet.
"You want proof, traitor? Here you have it."
Queen Carina stares at the usurper with an expression of disdain and cold fury. "How dare you? How dare you? You, who rebelled against your brothers and sisters! You, who smashed the brave warrior Cogar! You, who betrayed your tribe, now stand in the Swamp, daring to show your face here?"
Sobek: "...Oh, there's the Queen. Dang, this isn't going well. Eh, it was nice while it lasted."
Sobek jumps backward and throws a fire chi smoke grenade to his feet, clouding the area. He dives into a river leading to the West Sea, and crocs swim after him.
~Elsewhere~ Lyn watches this from a telescope at the top of the Lions' tower.
Lyn: "So Sobek was not the true successor to the Crocs' throne. That... actually explains a lot. We'll need to see if this Queen has anything to do with Primordium, though it doesn't seem like she does."
Lyn has lions radio Lycor to tell him about what's happened here.
"After him!" Carina yells, wafting the smoke away from her face with a large leaf.
Three of the Helicroctors still in the air turn and fly towards the mouth of the river, hoping to overtake Sobek and intercept him when he reaches the West Sea.
In the meantime, Queen Carina orders the Croc Army to stand down and gather for a public meeting at the old palace in the centre of the Swamp.
Sobek: "...Oh, there's the Queen. Dang, this isn't going well. Eh, it was nice while it lasted."
Sobek jumps backward and throws a fire chi smoke grenade to his feet, clouding the area. He dives into a river leading to the West Sea, and crocs swim after him.
~Elsewhere~ Lyn watches this from a telescope at the top of the Lions' tower.
Lyn: "So Sobek was not the true successor to the Crocs' throne. That... actually explains a lot. We'll need to see if this Queen has anything to do with Primordium, though it doesn't seem like she does."
Lyn has lions radio Lycor to tell him about what's happened here.
"After him!" Carina yells, wafting the smoke away from her face with a large leaf.
Three of the Helicroctors still in the air turn and fly towards the mouth of the river, hoping to overtake Sobek and intercept him when he reaches the West Sea.
In the meantime, Queen Carina orders the Croc Army to stand down and gather for a public meeting at the old palace in the centre of the Swamp.
Noticing all is well, a small round head pops out of a bush and looks around to make sure his suspicions are correct. Feeling safe, the Beaver wiggles his way out of the bush and chuckles to himself.
"Oh Beale, aren't you quite the trickster. Heh, heh!"
Pulling out a large contraption from that same bush, Beale smiles at his handiwork and prepares to test how it fares on water.
"Nice toy mate, care to let me have a closer look?"
Frightened by this unexpected visitor, Beale turns aside to find a ragged creature smiling at him. Shuffling his feet, he is left speechless and afraid at the glittering canines facing him. Before he could run, he is quickly nabbed and stuffed into a large bag.
Letting out a soft cackle, the creature roughly pushes Beale's contraption into the swamp where it sinks to the waters below. Throwing the bag onto his speedorz, the creature pokes it with a stick before driving off into the night. "Now, with this war and all, I've hadn't had a proper guest over for dinner in some time! Harr harr!"
-last edited on Aug 30, 2021 21:57:56 GMT by Shamrock
Post by Shamrock on Aug 30, 2021 21:56:45 GMT
The day after Sobek's flight into exile, the Crocodile Tribe gathers around their castle, standing in a hemicircle around the giant Croc gate. Once everybody is assembled, the gate swings open and the Queen Regent strides out, dressed in a distinctive but practical suit of silver armour.
The old Major who tried to arrest Sobek steps onto a small podium and places an orb of Chi into a small microphone, calling for silence, before climbing down and bowing to Carina.
The Queen steps up to the microphone, visible to the whole tribe.
"Thank you, everybody, for gathering at such short notice. I realise many of you may have been confused by the recent conflict with the Lions, and shocked to learn that Soek is a traitor and wanted felon. I fear Sobek may have eluded his pursuers, but we have set a guard at the mouth of the river, directly ahead of his last known trajectory.
"Turning to the matter of the Lion occupation, our scouts have confirmed all foreign troops have withdrawn beyond our borders. I am delighted to announce that the Swamp is ours again!"
The crowd erupts into cheering, particularly those Crocodiles who used to live in the northern provinces. Carina waits for the applause to die down before resuming speech.
-last edited on Aug 30, 2021 21:58:23 GMT by Shamrock
Post by Shamrock on Aug 30, 2021 21:57:13 GMT
"Doubtless you are all curious to know why I vanished, seemingly abandoning you despite having escaped the Hunter attack. Well, after it became clear that my husband the king was not amoing the captives rescued from Black Fang Mountain, I set out at once to look for him. Along with with my uncle, Major Colan, and a small band of followers, I looked everywhere: the tunnels, the Outlands, and the Black Mountain itself, searching every room from top to bottom and following every passage in hopes of discovering a secret chamber that Unichi might have missed when they retook the stronghold from its Sabretooth garrison.
"We searched for many months without success. However, when we had almopst given up hope, I discovered an old document detailing where the Hunter forces had been positioned, and where their prisoners had been kept. Obviously, most of their captives had already been found, but a small note on the document mentioned King Crogar having been transfered to a more secure facility prior to the Gorilla assault on the mountain.
"So, we used their own maps to find this other prison: a small Ice Fort in the far north. We scouted it out, and observed its defences, though we were too few to storm the fort ourselves. That is why we have now returned."
Queen Carina waits a moment for her words to sink in.
“Your king is alive, and he needs our help. His prison is small and lightly guarded, miles away from the main Hunter strongholds. If we strike prudently, the fort will fall within minutes. As soon as we have reorganised ourselves and reconstituted the Royal Army, I intend to lead a special task force - the brightest and the best Crocs in the Swamp - to travel behind enemy lines, and rescue King Crogar!”
One week later, the Swamp is busy with activity, with most open space having been converted into training grounds for the Croc Army's new recuits, who are busy duelling with blunted swords and spears, firing pulsors at straw Sabretoothes, or learning to operate miliotary vehicles under the close supervision of veteran warriors.
Meanwhile, the tribe's factories are working overtime to produce as much equipment as they can: weapons, armour, helicroctors, swamp speeders, and ships for the Croc Navy. Other craftspeople have been dispatched to the eastern border, where they set about restoring the wall once built by the Crawler Empire. Having suffered some damage during the Hunter invasion and left unmanned for such a long period, the fortifications have fallen into disrepair, but the core structure remains intact. Once some of the ivy has been pulled down and new materials are hauled up to replace the smashed parapets and crenellations, the wall starts to look almost as good as new.
Inside the castle, a small group of elders and generals have met in the old council chamber. Queen Carina stands at the head of the table, gesturing to a map carved and painted into the surface of the wood.
"I will leave the day after tomorrow, taking two hundred of our best fighters. We will travel by stealth, circling wide around enemy strongholds. Thus, our expedition will come up on the icefort through these hills..." - she moves a carved wooden croc across the Arctic North - "...and stay well clear of Sabre Mountain."
"Once my husband has been freed, we will leave by a different route to confuse pursuers. While the Sabretoothes try to cut of our escape from the south, we will move farther north, where we will rendezvous with your flotilla, Commodore Cralt."
The others murmur approval, before one of them rises to speak.
"A bold plan, Your Majesty, and I pray a successful one. But I am concerned by what the rest of us are to do in your absence. The King has no brothers or sisters, leaving only distant counsins with little training. None of them are suited to serve as regent in your absence, or to rule in the event that your mission should fail."
Carina considers his words, nodding.
"Crogar wrote a will just after ascending to the throne, declaring his third cousin Clay to be the heir. Given the boy's tender age...by the authority vested in me, as Regent of the Crocodile Kingdom, my own uncle, Colan, is hereby granted the authority to rule as castellan until I return out of the north. In the event that I perish on this mission, or am frozen, then he will continue to hold that title, and the chairmanship of this council, until another expedition successfuly rescues King Crogar. In the circumstance that Crogar also perishes, or that he is not successfuly rescued within the next two years, then young Lord Clay shall be crowned king. The power of regency shall rest with this council, led by Colan, who should then be named Lord Protector until the new king come of age."
* * * * * * * *
Two days later, a force of twelve score Crocodiles form up near the northeastern border, well-armed and equipped with cold-weather clothing for the Artic, packed into waterpproof bags and stowed aboard boats. Soon after, the column departs, sinking into the river so that only the very tops of their vehicles are visible, and snaking their way up into the Great Forest.