Fei Lak's Audience Hall - Shanggu

[Mikal]

A small party of men arrive at the site of Fei Lak's commandery in Yan. They number 4, total, and bear the crest and insignia of officials of the commandery under Zhao Yue. Their leader seeks out a guard and requests directions and admittance.

Xun: I have recieved a letter from the Marquis of Yan. I am High General Xun Ruishi.

The guards glance at each other. Not every day a man calling himself High General arrives. Thinking a moment over their protocol, they look to the General.

"We shall summon an escort to bring you to the Marquis. The Coalition rules state only those who serve the Coalition and its interests may bear arms within this building. May we hold any such weapons, General?"

As the guard asks this question the escort arrives. Leading them is a tall warrior, bearing golden armor and helm, a simple yet effective blade on his hip.

[Kuai Wei]

Ma Xiang rode to the gates of Yan, quick to reveal his intentions by casting aside his halberd to the guards stationed outside of Fei Lak's audience hall. Although he'd made quite a few trips to Yan to hear of Fei Lak's status throughout the recent months, this time he'd come for someone else. Ma spoke, "Ma Xiang of the Jibei province seeks..." Xiang had stopped, now realizing that he had yet to know the name of the very man he'd sought out here in the Yan province. "Gold Boy," he finished, dismounting his steed. "Yes, I seek Gold Boy, the one that participated in the recent attack on Donga in the Jibei province. Surely Gold Boy is resting up after the battle and has the time to converse with me?" In Xiang's eyes, mocking the warrior by calling him "Gold Boy" would gain the attention of the guards. In this case, Ma believed the following would happen:The warrior Xiang seeks would have no other choice than to confront him seeing as how letting a man parade around the city calling Fei Lak's warrior a "Gold Boy" would obviously lessen the people's faith in their lord's warriors. OR, as there's always another outcome, Xiang would be locked away by the very man he seeks until Fei Lak learned of his presence and released him. Xiang wasn't too terribly worried about the second outcome, however, and continued to say, "Well, where is this Golden Kid?"

[Mikal]

"Gold... boy?" The guards look at each other, their faces widening, remembering the bloody pulp that resulted from the last soldier who mocked The Golden Generals armor.

"You mean Colonel Khan? Very well sir. We shall... let him know your message. Will you wait here?"

At that, one of the hidden interior guards must have sent a message inside, for a golden figure, surrounded by an escort of guards, some bearing blades, some bows, strode outside. The warrior in the yellow armor looked down his nose at the man before him.

"You wished to speak with Zhao Khan?"

[Indestructable]

Lak nodded while he chewed on a bun, doing his best to avoid the honey dripping onto his fingers.

"Indeed. It is my deepest regret I was unable to best Prefect Cai in combat. Though in essence the force we sent was there to stop him from reinforcing the King, I had hopes we could secure victory there. Still, the Prefect proved a very resourceful adversary and his Commander in chief a most noble of opponents."

Taking another bite and wiping his mouth, the Marquis' breached several etiquette laws but continued as if unaware.

"I have forces extended over three provinces now, I need capable men more than ever. I know honey buns and some expensive tea will not convince you to join me, so I will be blunt. What will it take to convince you?"

Lak shoved another bun in his mouth, gesturing to Khan for him to join them but the big man politely declined.

Dios Xang was a little taken back from the Marquis' straight forwardness. Mauling over the question for a minute, Dios thought about his answer.

"Well, you see good Marquis, I've been offered many different things and positions from the outlaying provinces. What I seek is a position of acknowledgable stature, for it is no secret that I have the skills necessary to lead an army, not to mention my smithing abilities would be quite useful to the many officers in your services."

[Phailak]

"I understand. The only point I cannot negotiate on is salary, everyone receives 50 gold per month. As for rank, I was thinking of Chief Aide to start, based on your reputation alone. I am open to any other suggestion you might have. Of course, there would be many opportunities for you to advance through the ranks as we grow in power and you prove your worth. If you are looking for a chance to prove yourself, there is no better place than in the north right now."

[Indestructable]

Stroking his lightly shaded beard, Dios Xang nodded, giving off a warm smile. "Well good Marquis, that is quite the offer."

Slowly taking the last sip of his tea in his glass, he let out a content sigh, "It is no secret, I have been summoned to many other provinces of King's, lords and Perfects. It would only be the respectable thing to hear out their offers as well. I hope you understand, for a man of your high regard and stature must understand where I am coming from."

[Phailak]

Lak did not seem surprised in the least.

"It only confirms my scouts were correct in their assessment of your talents. If you should decide to join us, Marshal Lu will welcome you to his side in what we believe is the strongest army in the land. You most likely know of his exploits already, not only does he always achieve victory, he does it in grand fashion and rarely loses many men. Before you accept any offer, I would ask you come visit me one last time to tell me in person so I may have a final chance to convince you"

The Marquis sipped his tea, content with having met this fine man.

[Mikal]

"If you came here, you would have more than what those other rulers could give." Khan speaks up as the pair eat their meal.

"The Coalition is a land which preserves the ideals that made this place great, a land of honor. Warriors such as myself, those which may have been cast out of other lands because of pettyness, they thrive here."

He looks at the Marquis as he continues.

"Many would die for the Marquis and his dreams of a unified land. You may get more gold in other places, but here, you get respect. And power. Things which others pay lip service too, but, in their actions, ignore."

He points out, towards the south.

"Look at the actions of our neighbors! They make promises of aid, of help! Tian Dan and Cai Xinghe both! Now one has been taken by our noble armies, a king no less! That is the power the Marquis holds. The respect given to him. The other? He will soon fall, if he does not submit. That is our way. Look at Lu Ying, a woman who promised her aid to us, then denied it. She too, will be shown the error of her ways."

He looks at the Marquis' guest with a hard look in his eyes.

"This is a land of warriors, a land of honor. Here... you would have a place that cannot be found anywhere else, and even if they make promises, because they lack the honor the Marquis does, they will not keep them."

He bows before Fei Lak.

"While many may fear his dreams, at the core, the Marquis is an honorable man."

[Ztamp]

A lady with no guards appears at the front of the gates to the palace in Shanggu, it was cold and looked quite gloomy.
"I am Lady Ling Li, I have recieved a few letters from here, Lord Liu Fang and the Marquis have both asked i come here!"
The lady said as she approached one of the guards near the gate.

[Li Dao Wen]

Xian Long Rui happened to be passingby the entrance to the palace of Shanggu when he noticed an unfamiliar woman standing outside. He was holding a sack in his right hand, which was slung over his back. On his left he carried his trademark halberd.

Approaching the newcomer with typical Yan friendliness and respectability, he bowed to her with courtesy as well.

"Greetings, and welcome to Shanggu, capital of the fledging kingdom of Yan. I heard you were looking for Master Feng and the Marquis?"

As he bowed, the sack on his back slipped and came swinging down towards the back of his head. Turns out the sack was full of solid wooden objects, because the sound of wood crashing against the steel of his silver helmet was the loudest sound that did echo in Shanggu that day.

Releasing the sack from his hand, he had a very embarrassed look on his gleaming smooth face. The guards at the entrance started to snicker, to which he cast a very mean look. trying to ignore his predicament, he signalled the still laughing guards to call in a lady inspector so that she may be searched right after she has been asked a few questions.

Turning to the pretty lady, he put up the straightest face he could muster and completed it with a winsome smile.

"I am Xian Long Rui, Chief Aide to the Marquis, and general of Yan." he introduced himself. "May I know milady's name?"