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Post by ??? on Sept 28, 2014 20:11:34 GMT
Thelotia is one of the largest cities in the world. It's something easy to say but almost impossible to imagine - a sea of building stretching farther than the eye can see, millions upon millions of people calling the cement, brick and grime their home. It was a city of the poor, the rich and those in between. It was a city of ambition, where people dreamed of their own yachts and shiny new cars. The city was immense. So no matter how good your intelligence gathering systems are it can be difficult to locate the people you're searching for...
However, nothing escaped the gaze of the Crow for long. Ever searching, ever aware, the Crow was always looking for the right pieces to the immense puzzle she was constructing. A silver car pulled up toward the abandoned factory that sat on the outskirts of the district, stopping short of the building a young, tall man slipped out of the driver side. The man stood at 5'11, short blonde spiky hair, light skin and soft blue eyes. Dressed in a dark suit jacket and white button up shirt, a holster with a revolver resting comfortably in it sat against the side of his chest beneath his jacket.
The man looked around the area uncomfortably until rounding over to the passenger side and opening the door. A lady took his hand and stepped out into the abandoned parking lot.
"M'lady, are you sure this is the place?" The man asked the woman who was shrouded in black.
"Without a doubt." The Crow spoke, her eyes absorbing surrounding area. "Shall we?"
"Of course." Taking her arm in arm they walked slowly up to the factory. The man was tense, understandably so if they were about to visit the man she had spoken of. He would have tried to talk her out of it but Crow knew little of fear, the woman had freely picked a fight with an ancient religious order simply because she wanted to take it over. He couldn't understand the way her mind worked, but a wondrous mind it was. There was nobody who could outsmart Crow, as far as he was concerned.
"Aarron, you will not follow from here." The Crow said as they approached the door. Aarron looked at her with wide eyes.
"Why-"
"He doesn't like your kind."
"Ellusians?"
"Imperial Marines, let alone someone who works with the IIA."
"Very well..." Aarron agreed reluctantly, "I'll be close behind, though."
"I wouldn't doubt it." The Crow said with a soft smile, grabbing the side of the building she leaned against it. Her legs were better but still not great, the Crow still had trouble keeping her balance at times. Pushing open the door the woman stepped into the dark abandoned factory.
She stepped about three feet into the building and stopped, glancing around the woman finally spoke, "I seek audience with the 'King of the Failed States'."
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Post by Hannibal Krieger on Sept 28, 2014 23:32:55 GMT
There is many reasons why Hannibal picked to make his temporary home in this abandon factory, but this factory was durable, and he knew all of the entrances of this place, and how to board them up solid. Which means excluding 2 personal made entrances not natural to the factory, the only way in was though the truck gate, which while it isn't that hard to push open, it made a lot of loud noises. Hannibal was in the back, looking at the map of Thelotia. He quickly hid the map and looked at door.
Hannibal watched from the shadows as this woman walked in here. When she spoke, she called for him by the title that the empire called him. He stayed in the shadows, but he wondered how long it would work with this person. He put up a barrier just in case she was a cocky assassin.
"People normally don't seek an audience with me unless they plan to kill me." Hannibal said, as he watched her, having the light from the door shine on her.
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???
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Post by ??? on Sept 29, 2014 1:02:27 GMT
"If I intended to kill you I would not seek an audience with you." The Crow shot back, glancing in the direction where his voice came from, "I a harmless woman with a wounded leg, surely you do not fear me?" She pointed out as she used some old machinery as support. "I have a proposal you may be interested in hearing, though..." The Crow was very much accustomed to letting her other senses take lead for her, she was very good at locating people through sound and catching scents in the air.
Of course the Crow didn't expect Hannibal to prance out to meet her but she was very pleased that the man hadn't tried to shoot her where she stood, that wasn't entirely the path she wished to take with this conversation.
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Post by Hannibal Krieger on Sept 29, 2014 23:14:52 GMT
"You learn a few things in the Failed States. One is to not trust those you do not know. That is something I know from personal experience." Hannibal said as he walked out into the light. His attire was his of his stolen military uniform, and his swords were sheathed and to his sides. He walked towards her in a slow non-aggressive pace, watching her as he walked.
"So, you said you have a proposal, but I have yet to be given a name to call you by." Hannibal asked, as he stopped in about 10 paces from her.
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???
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Post by ??? on Oct 2, 2014 15:25:46 GMT
"You may call me the Crow." Crow said with a small bow of her head, "And I do not ask for your trust, I ask for ten minutes of your time." She watched him carefully, weighing what he was capable of as he neared her. Part of the entire 'peaceful deal making' was that she decided to come in without a weapon, but that didn't mean she was defenseless - far from it in fact. Of course her friend was just a call away, the Crow felt she was well protected.
The Crow found that the more defenseless and weak you were made to look the more men underestimated you, so the Crow kept her shoulders low and visibly made sure her weak leg had been seen. As she had said, the Crow did not need Hannibal to trust her but she did need him to at least listen and Kings usually didn't like it when you challenged them.
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Post by Hannibal Krieger on Oct 6, 2014 0:08:15 GMT
Hannibal watched as she showed off her leg, making it noticeable to him. He gave a small grin, as he turn to his side "I was about to eat. I would love to hear this over the meal. Would you care to join me? I have enough for the both of us. It's just back here." Hannibal said as he raised his hand, and pointed his hand towards the outline of the door. While it was coincidence that he did have a meal ready, he did have other reasons to hold it back. It was mostly protection from anyone jumping him in the large room.
"I would hate for it to get cold, Miss Crow."
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???
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Post by ??? on Oct 8, 2014 17:07:09 GMT
"I'm afraid I lack the same tastes that you have. I shall join you though, I've never really been a fan of this cold weather." The Crow didn't even wait for him to lead the way as she walked right past him and into the room. She wanted to appear weak but not afraid, fear gave way to concessions and she intended little of that. Glancing around the area she put her back towards the wall and turned to face Hannibal.
"Homey place you have here. May I sit?"
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Post by Hannibal Krieger on Oct 11, 2014 0:52:10 GMT
"Yes, I hope this seat is comfortable enough." Hannibal said as he pulled out a chair by the table. The room had a yellow hue from the light bulbs above gave a small flash, as the generator ran outside. The table was clear except for a few plates, a bowl with a roast in it, and a glass filled with a red liquid. The walls were stacked with many different books and the wall had sketches and maps of different places around the world. The plate in front of the Crow's was empty, but a wine bottle next to her glass.
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???
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Post by ??? on Oct 11, 2014 21:23:49 GMT
With a glance over at the wine glass the Crow made a small smile, "Were you expecting someone or do you always keep an extra place ready?" The Crow took her seat, not touching the wine or the food. "We have a common enemy. The Empire of Ellusia has spread its reach across most of the world, entangling its inhabitants and destroying all who oppose it. Religions and cultures have been erased at the whim of a single person, children even. You want the Empire out of your land and I want them out of Zoi... I think we can come to some type of common ground here."
The Crow watched Hannibal carefully, she gave out exactly as much as she intended and simply wanted to see how Hannibal would react to it all. "The world news a new birth. We can provide it."
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Post by Hannibal Krieger on Oct 12, 2014 1:37:38 GMT
Hannibal sat down as he looked over to Crow as she asked about the plate, "It seems in this city, having a spare plate ready as people like to come during dinner." He picked up some of the slice roast with a large wooden fork as he heard the Crow's offer. As she finished it up, he cut into the roast and took a bite, with some an edible moss on it. He looked at her and gave a small smile, "So there are other Anti-empire outside of the Failed States. That is good to know." Hannibal said, "However, I think you underestimate my resolve. I don't want them out of the Failed States. I want them utterly dissolved and no longer of this world. Though, having them off of Zoi would be beneficial, for both you and I. What did you have plan to get the Empire out of Zoi?" He asked as he leaned back looking at the Crow.
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Post by ??? on Oct 12, 2014 2:40:07 GMT
"You think big, I admire that." The Crow gave a nod to his words, "Zoi is where the Empire's grip is the weakest, if we break it they will not be able to return. Regardless, my plans are complex and best not discussed in full detail - I have many enemies and they are always listening. All you need to know right now is that I want control of the Ótan oi Theoí - and yes, they do still exist - and from there we can move on. Not before and not after."
The Ótan oi Theoí were an ancient group of assassins and soldiers sworn to protect the Religion of Eight. She had traded fire with them already and found them to be exactly what she needed... taking over an ancient order was a entirely different situation, especially when you the only knowledge anyone has on them are centuries old. The last of the Ótan oi Theoí was thought to be destroyed when the Empire marched on Proti.
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Post by Hannibal Krieger on Oct 14, 2014 1:47:23 GMT
"So you want to gain control over a group of zealots assassins, huh? They are a violent old group, from what I read. I am still shocked they are still around from what I read." Hannibal said as he looked over at the pile of books to Crow's left. There sat a black bounded book within the stack he looked at about the Religion of Eight and organizations associated with them. While impressed, there wasn't much information about their tactics.
"I am guessing that you have clashed with them before, if you knew that they were still around." Hannibal asked, right before he took a bite of what looked like a blue root.
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???
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Post by ??? on Oct 14, 2014 22:23:00 GMT
"They killed a good friend of mine." They had killed her horse but Crow loved that horse as a friend. She intended to make them bleed for that, "They're not to be underestimated, they fought for years against the Empire in attempt to save their religion. I say under some new leadership they can truly do some good..."
The Crow would provide the leadership necessary to successfully rid Zoi of the Empire. That was only the start, a free, independent Zoi would be able to keep Ellusia off the continent for the foreseeable future. "Now it's your turn. I know of you but I'm not looking for a partnership with a single man. Tell me how much people you have working for you?"
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Post by Hannibal Krieger on Oct 19, 2014 0:08:52 GMT
"Well that depends on what you mean." Hannibal said as he took a sip of wine. "If you mean in the Failed States, my entire clan is in agreement of the cause, however there is no way I can move all of them from the Failed States to Thelotia, many different reasons. I could move some of my men here, but it would have to be small numbers and it would take a while, but I could have about 10,000 here, but that would take time."
Hannibal spin the wine in his glass, thinking about the numbers in his clan. It's wasn't like she need to know how many were in his ranks at this time,as they were taking over Zoi, and he couldn't lose his footing in the Failed States as the empire might suspect something was going on if there was an exodus of his people. He also wanted to see how she would respond to this. She could have been a spy for the empire of hell, even for Thelotia, but the true number to his clan shouldn't be an issue at this time. If he could establish trust with her in the future, then he would let more of his men come here to fight. It would be beneficial for him to have the clan move here, but doing it too fast and all at once could lead to more problems then what he could deal with.
He then continued to cut into the roast, "I have been trying to work on some more allies here. I have made a few, but their willingness to defy the empire hasn't been established. Now, to ask you the same question, how many do you have working for you?" He then put the roast into his mouth and chewed on it.
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???
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Post by ??? on Oct 20, 2014 0:37:50 GMT
The Crow nodded at his words, taking in their numbers and thinking clearly about what he had said. It seemed reasonable, '10,000 screaming sand people.', they would have their use, no matter how untrained people might be an angry mob could always overrun a military position, most of the time at least. The Crow turned towards Hannibal and watched him silently as he ate down the roast.
"Counting myself? There are four... more if you count my informants, but I don't." The Crow held no shame in such a small number, carrying around an army was pointless in her profession. "I've done more with less though. What I offer though is far more than man power - I offer information. You won't find a place better at gathering information then what we can do."
Technically the Dust Collection Agency probably could out gather them, but they sold their information so expensively that any organization would quickly go bankrupt working through them.
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