Wolf in The Mountains [[ OPEN ]]

[Fenrir]

One foot ahead of the next, the land below his feet untrustworthy. It reminded him slightly of home. But there was less snow here. Less of the cold. None the less. Whatever cold there was his long leather and fur cape kept it out. His helmet hung by his side as he moved step by step towards the city that was supposedly nearby. Mountains always made him that bit more comfortable when it came to foriegn lands. Rome had so few of them it was almost sickening.

He was here on orders from Akumu. Scout out China. See if it was a gold pot waiting to be filled. The native langauge of these people was still harsh on his ars. But he had been a quick learner when Akumu had taken the time to teach in the boat ride from the south. At the moment from what he had heard in the passing. The current political climate with the yellow turban rebellion continuing to grow in mass by the day. And discontent with the current ruling class. Meant that it was anyones money. Fenrir at the moment saw this happening in two ways. The Yellow Turbans would be qwelled. However ruling nobility would see this as a chance to rise in popularity and wish to over throw for themselves.

Or the yellow turbans would win. And mass conflict would emerge from the resulting power vaccum. Either way spelt out war and profit for the Black Arms mercenaries.

Picking a spot of even earth. He decided here would be a good place to sit and rest.

Past couple of days he had set up a recruitment post for hiring new Black Arms mercenaries out of the local populus. No one was turned away at the door. However. The process was difficult for each one. people were set into different catagories. Judged what weapon they would be best at and then tested with their overall skill with that weapon. But not just current skill. But future potiental. Ability to follow orders. All that stuff. In the end. They would be filtered out. Slug at the bottom of a recruitment crusible.

In the end only about 5 in every 20 would be accepted as a trainee. And out of those 5 only 1 would get to call themselves a Black Arms mercenary by the end of it. Removing a piece of hardened black bread from his belts satchel. He placed it in his mouth and chewed throughly.

Finally running weathered hand through his black and graying hair. The giant of a man sat back and enjoyed the mountain air.

There was a howl to the west. One of his brothers. Far away. But there none the less. A hunting call fr the pack. Wolves wern't the lone creatures that romantic stories created them out to be. Wolves hunted in packs. To see a lone wolf was rare. Seeing one meant that there were others. If not. It meant that this wolf had done something to be thrown out of the pack. THoughts moved to his own people and then to the black arms. He had been a lone wolf for awhile after the death of his wife. And then he'd found a new pack with the Black Arms.

His short rest done, he'd slowly get back up, making sure to keep his footing that the weight of his body,sword and helmet didn't crumble the flatland on his feet.

With the small walk out complete the wolf of the north was back on the main road back int the city. Joined by a few merchants who gave him the odd stare. People in this land wern't as tall as other places. But even then Fenrir was considered a giant. Standing at 6'6 and bound by muscle. A terrifying figure wrapped in wolf fur as he entered the city gates and down the streets.

[Lu Xiang]

Xi Liang, the cold mountains of the North. The harsh terrain and the fierce weather would make it a perfect stronghold. Sima Hui had no use for the relics of the past - the central plains was too highly contest for. The power was in the defence of a city - if the people felt safe, then they would fight. Open plains offered nothing but certain death. The lands hadn't yet fallen into his grasp.. but Ma Teng of the North was a challenge.

"hmph."

The man possessed several warriors of significance and was loyal to the Han. His removal would be tricky. Without a doubt - Ma Teng wouldn't share the North with any other so it was already out of the question. He got lost in his thoughts so several moments, plotting and scheming. The rest of China bathed in war and blood - Water Mirror prepared himself. The land would divide, he had prophecized it. Nobody was willing to follow the dying empire, at least nobody with a brain cell. Sima Hui hoped to teach China a new age, an age of intelligence and development. He had no men, no troops, no armour, no weapons - Just a mind. Not a simple mind; a complex and obscure mind. A great cerebral cortex.

He had studied the art of war from a very young age, suceeding his peers before the age of puberty. Shattering targets set by his masters and overcoming them. It wasn't enough. Divine ambition and intelligence was a hunger. Why should such dim-witted men rule China with their own greeds?

Thats when the growling of animals provoked him, he stirred a little unwary. He wasn't a man of physically nature. He doubted his survival against a pack of wolves. He was alone - always was normally and always would be. Though, he suspected that would change- It would need to if he was going to succeed in his ambitions. He cleared his throat a little.

Dressed in his usual of common peasent robes and a traditional hairband - he didn't look much from far off. He liked to keep his opponents guessing or at least misjudging him. Mistaking him for a simple minded peasent would be a huge mistake. He would soon grow to be known as one of the greatest strategists the lands of China had even seen. They had seen amazing figures before - Sun Tzu. But behold a new breed.

Flash. He blinked a little before a gem presented itself to him. A strong man in front of him. Pale and Western. How strange. A goliath of a man, standing at a foot and a half over Hui's own height. How extroadinary. He looked a little lost, a stranger in a stranger land.

"You there!"

He shouted, waving with the cliché politician suck up attitude. I will feed you, clothe you, look after you. But you will serve me. I will abuse you foreigner, but I will create you into a fierce warrior. A man to be heralded in the halls of heroes. A man so fearless and deadly that Hell spat him out. He snarled, his cursed mind running - He didn't even know this man, but the instant vision of a sword and shield within his hands almost ran Sima Hui over in flush. Sima Hui cut introductions short. Clearly he was of no physical worry to the man in front of him.

Sima Hui had always been outgoing, not afraid to talk to people he didn't know. Compliment when needed or dispute when felt offended. His eyes scanned the man before coming to the conclusion that he would need friends and Sima Hui would offer him friendship.

"Your not local are you? I am Sima Hui - Decao for short. I'm a strategist and a wanderer. I have heard of the people of the West, I do hope the stories are true. Tell me, can i offer you to a drink inside the city? I'm sure its not as good as your homelands brew but it sure does hit the spot."

[Fenrir]

The crowd as he expected. Stared as he walked on by. The large heavy sword strapped to his back caught a few glances as well. It was a feeling that he knew all too well. It was the sheep staring at the wolf among them. Too afraid to move. To afraid to act of place. If he looked at one of them. Eyes were averted. These people stunk of fear. But it wasn't just fear of him. It seemed this whole climate of power struggles had people skittish. Like animals before a thunderstorm. Or some other form of natural disaster.

His original idea in this was to find the inn he had been staying at for the past two nights, sit down. Have a drink of what these easterners called alcohol and see if there were any other people who had been interested in joining the Black Arms. Interview them. Then head to bed. Unfortunatly. He seemed to have gotten himself a little lost in this city. Too consumed by his own thoughts. He felt he might want to double back.

But just befre he had the chance to. A man approached him. The man was like most of the people in this land. Short. And with a look of grandeur in his eyes. Fenrir at the moment looked down at him in more than one way. However his feelings were hidden from his face which remained painted blank. He'd listen to what this man had to say. Although from the look of him Fenrir had to doubt that he was interested in joining the Black Arms. The words of the man were once again harsh on his ears. His mind quickly translating to words that he knew. A reply would probably be slightly slow.

After all. He was still new to using this langauge perfectly.

"...Yes..I'm foriegn"

Was the first of the answers. Moving onto what he had said next. An introduction. A man of intellect. A planner. One who had heard tales of men from the west. Fenrir grunted at this comment. And replied in kind with how he thought appropriate. " Depends on what tales you have heard Master Hui, some are true. Others are fabrications...It is for you to decide which is which". And then the man said something strange.

He wanted to buy the mercenary a drink. He was suspicious at first. However if this man was a potiental employer. It wouldn't do good to deny him.

" I would be happy to. Lead on".

[Lu Xiang]

Sima Hui, bows graciously towards the man. A stern, well built man. Before turning and leading the way back to the town. His tongue was good - considering his foreign nature. Sima Hui kicked himself, reminding himself to speak a little slower and less complex to not confuse the man. The open hills were a ravenous place at night, open to wolves, beasts and other fierce ghoulies. Not something Decao was a fan of.

"So, whats your story - friend? Where are you from, What do you do? and more importantly why of all places did you wind up here?"

Westerners were rare, extremely rare. In fact this was only his third encounter with them. Such long distance travels were often forbidden due to lack of relations between nations and the fact technology hadn't been produced to travel that far - Plus it took far too long. He didn't look much like a slave, his clothes and armours were prized to him clearly nor did he look much like a merchant or a buisness man. Strange.

"Ah, Xi Liang. A fine city if I do say myself."

Sima Hui pranced ahead, like the leading small man he was, scurrying along. Every two steps for him was one for the giant behind. The grand city, built upon the foundations of an old legenary mountain, extending outwards and upwards. They called it the city of the heavens. No doubt why. The perfectly stoned roads and the fierce buildings, truly a sight to behold. Sima Hui plodded towards a building before waving gently to the man, hurrying him up. The tavern doors were pushed open, a fluster of smoke, ale and atmosphere blew back at them.

"Not the most welcoming of places for foreigners, but welcome to China my friend. Now what will you be drinking?"

He said, reserving a table for himself and his newly made friend with his eyes. Scanning the room for hostiles. Even a man of intelligence had enemies. It wasn't rare for him to be picked on due to his small figure and lack of physical strength. The coast appeared to be clear.

[Fenrir]

A background story. The next question the strange native was asking for. However if he was to be a potiental employer he may as well be straight with him. " I'm from an island near Norway. I'm a saxson....as for what brings me to this country. I'm a mercenary. I work for a company known as the Black Arms. You may. Or may not have heard of us. Most of our work takes place in the west...I'm here to scout out the area so to speak...". He looked around. " Our leader smells war begining to brew in this place.....And now here...I agree.....there is a storm coming to this land....the people are like frightened sheep.....". He looked down at the man. Not quite like the rest. He didn't seem fearful of the storm.

Rather. He appeared to be the kind of man that looked on at it. And laughed. " And of course....If I was to find this to be true...I would begin to set up a base of operations here.....most mercenary companies come when war is established. We prefer to get our foots in the door early....first come...first serve...". There was of course another way to look at this. Vultures feasting on the body before it had died. Pre-emptive striking. The man commented on the city.

Fenrir agreed. It was a good place. Although their ideas on fine may have been different. This place was built on trecherous terrian. An invading army would have difficulty moving men and supplies. Calvary would be ineffective. With gates sealed up. And proper battlements mantained. This place could see 200 defenders with bow hold off an army easily ten times its size. That is. So long as supplies lasted. The man led them into the local watering hole. The smell of second hand smoke and cheap alcohol flowed freely into his sensative nostrils. He let out a grunt of discomfort and then looked down at the man.

" Your welcome is appreciated. And I will have whatever you are having".

He thinned his eyes though. " However. If we are to do business I would prefer we dispense with the pleasantries".