Hangfu Hejian was in quite the predicament.
To his west, the growing power of The Red Dragon Confederation threatened him and his way of life.
To his east, The Gray Snake of the North was making fast moves on the territory around him.
And to his south was a lunatic, one by the name of "The Almighty Meng Jun"
Surrounded by powerful foes, with little to grapple onto, Hangfu searched for aid. He found some in Lang Liaoxi, who was in a similar predicament.
Hangfu and Lang had similar goals - survive and protect themselves. Hangfu was content with being a minor land-owning warlord, and would not be stripped of that title.
The Unfortunates are currently gathered in Liaoxi, deciding on a way to defend themselves.
The Purple Unfortunates
Re: The Purple Unfortunates
The middle of summer brought with it longer hours of light, and so despite it being the onset of evening as Liang Hongyu returned, there was scarcely a trace of the night dimming the horizon yet. Once her estate was safely in sight, she swiftly guided her horse in the direction of the manor she had recently taken as her own. One who knew her in passing might have been surprised at the size of the modest estate, as Liang took pride in her appearance and reputation, always presenting herself elegantly and giving the impression of one who took great stock in material wealth. Indeed she did, to a certain extent, but the few who knew her more intimately knew better the other side of her, always on the prowl for new adventures, making things such as a posh residence or much in the way of personal belongings as much of a nuisance as something to be desired. So her estate was something she viewed as temporary lodgings, not a place to call home, and she invested relatively little effort into finding a new one each time her travels brought her to a new location.
The hooves of her powerful steed clacked along the cobblestone street as she rode up to the gate granting entry to the grounds of her estate. A guard was posted nearby, and he looked up at the noise, squinting for a moment into the setting sun at Liang as she dismounted and led the horse over to the gate.
"Ah... Lady Liang?" the guard hesitated slightly in assuming he correctly recognized the woman standing before him. The guard blinked, then saluted briskly, opening the gate before her. There was little activity upon the grounds, as Liang did not employ a large staff such as those who owned more sprawling estates might, she merely kept a few personal servants to tend to her affairs and do what little needed to be done around the grounds. With her not even present for the past few weeks, there was very little to do, and so it was not strange that she was able to make it to the stables to pass care of her horse to the groom without seeing any others about, and then take herself inside the house itself before seeing anyone else.
"Lady Liang?!" came the startled squeal as she entered the main room, where a young woman in the light dress of a handmaiden sat at ease upon a cushion of rich violet. "Lady Liang! It is you! I've been worried so much, especially since seeing soldiers on the road, without any sign of you!" Shooting to her feet, the woman- who from the smooth skin of her face and hands must have been at least a decade younger than Liang- moved swiftly to the lady's side. "And they stopped coming almost a week ago, where have you-" her eyes widened as she looked more closely at Liang. "Lady Liang..." she whispered in a tone of tender ministration, "You, you're very tired... Come, let's get you settled in comfortably..." She paused momentarily, looking the lady over with a long gaze. "Perhaps a bath to wash away the dirt and grime and get you feeling more relaxed will help?" she suggested, looking Liang in the eye for a moment before her gaze flitted away to the side almost as if embarrassed.
"A bath?" Liang mused aloud, after a moment a faint grin cracking one side of her stoic expression. "Excellent idea. Is Liu around? Have her heat some water..." With a nod, the young handmaiden disappeared into another room for a minute before returning.
"The bath is being prepared, Lady Liang. It should be ready in just a few minutes. Here, let me help you get that off..." she reported as she moved once again to Liang's side, her hands moving around to the lady's back, working at the fastenings of the breastplate Liang wore. Groaning softly, Liang let her eyes close as the young woman did her job, carefully removing each piece of armor from the lady's body and setting them to the side for later cleaning. "Fetch me an inkpot and quill, will you?" she said, still not opening her eyes. "I've really got to send a letter to Liaoxi. They're doing so well for themselves, but after those reports they're really in need..."
"Tomorrow, Lady Liang," Xi replied, reaching up to undo the simple hairknot which had been keeping Liang's hair from falling out all over the place. "Tonight you should just relax and do what you want to do." Leading Liang on out the back door, they came to a small screened area just outside. A few curls of steam rose from inside the screens to the sloped roof overhead, showing that the bath was indeed ready. Sliding one of the screens away, the two women entered, Xi closing the screen behind them and obscuring the view of any outside again. "I hope it isn't too hot for you, Lady Liang," she commented, her own elegantly braided hair twisting a bit with the motion as she bent down to put a hand in the steaming waters that had been poured into the carefully sculpted wooden tub set into the ground- one of the few luxuries on Liang's estate.
"I'm sure it's fine for me," Liang replied with a strange note in her voice as she watched the young woman's movement closely. "Did it feel fine to you?"
"A bit hot for me, but not too bad..." Xi breathed softly, turning back to Liang. "Your clothes are kind of dirty," she noted as she once again reached over and began removing said clothes from Liang, the lady's well-toned bare body becoming visible bit by bit as garments were shed. At last, with a deep breath released in a long, cleansing exhalation, Liang sank into the steaming waters, letting her body adjust to the heat for a minute before ducking her head underwater momentarily. Re-emerging with another deep breath, she blinked droplets of water away and glanced back towards the young woman crouched nearby who now seemed to be debating whether the smelly, filthy cotton garments Liang had worn for the past two weeks were worth trying to wash or should just be discarded.
"Don't worry about them, I'll just get more," Liang noted, casting a glance at the pile of clothes then looking back to Xi with a light grin.
"O-of course, Lady Liang," Xi blushed softly, moving to kneel upon a cushion at the tub's edge and collecting the locks of Liang's hair floating about on the surface of the water into one clump again, running her fingers through it a few times before producing a fine-toothed comb. Her hair was not especially long, falling only to about the middle of her back even sopping wet like this, but it was certainly relaxing to have someone tend to it. Much as it was also relaxing to have someone massage her tired shoulders, as Xi then moved to do, her gentle hands rubbing away much of the remaining stress and stiffness lingering in her muscles as Liang closed her eyes, enjoying the tender ministrations.
After a good bit of this, one of Liang's eyes opened again, fighting away the drowsiness that the hot water and massage were creating. "Have Liu draft up a letter. I will review it first thing in the morning." she said languidly.
The hooves of her powerful steed clacked along the cobblestone street as she rode up to the gate granting entry to the grounds of her estate. A guard was posted nearby, and he looked up at the noise, squinting for a moment into the setting sun at Liang as she dismounted and led the horse over to the gate.
"Ah... Lady Liang?" the guard hesitated slightly in assuming he correctly recognized the woman standing before him. The guard blinked, then saluted briskly, opening the gate before her. There was little activity upon the grounds, as Liang did not employ a large staff such as those who owned more sprawling estates might, she merely kept a few personal servants to tend to her affairs and do what little needed to be done around the grounds. With her not even present for the past few weeks, there was very little to do, and so it was not strange that she was able to make it to the stables to pass care of her horse to the groom without seeing any others about, and then take herself inside the house itself before seeing anyone else.
"Lady Liang?!" came the startled squeal as she entered the main room, where a young woman in the light dress of a handmaiden sat at ease upon a cushion of rich violet. "Lady Liang! It is you! I've been worried so much, especially since seeing soldiers on the road, without any sign of you!" Shooting to her feet, the woman- who from the smooth skin of her face and hands must have been at least a decade younger than Liang- moved swiftly to the lady's side. "And they stopped coming almost a week ago, where have you-" her eyes widened as she looked more closely at Liang. "Lady Liang..." she whispered in a tone of tender ministration, "You, you're very tired... Come, let's get you settled in comfortably..." She paused momentarily, looking the lady over with a long gaze. "Perhaps a bath to wash away the dirt and grime and get you feeling more relaxed will help?" she suggested, looking Liang in the eye for a moment before her gaze flitted away to the side almost as if embarrassed.
"A bath?" Liang mused aloud, after a moment a faint grin cracking one side of her stoic expression. "Excellent idea. Is Liu around? Have her heat some water..." With a nod, the young handmaiden disappeared into another room for a minute before returning.
"The bath is being prepared, Lady Liang. It should be ready in just a few minutes. Here, let me help you get that off..." she reported as she moved once again to Liang's side, her hands moving around to the lady's back, working at the fastenings of the breastplate Liang wore. Groaning softly, Liang let her eyes close as the young woman did her job, carefully removing each piece of armor from the lady's body and setting them to the side for later cleaning. "Fetch me an inkpot and quill, will you?" she said, still not opening her eyes. "I've really got to send a letter to Liaoxi. They're doing so well for themselves, but after those reports they're really in need..."
"Tomorrow, Lady Liang," Xi replied, reaching up to undo the simple hairknot which had been keeping Liang's hair from falling out all over the place. "Tonight you should just relax and do what you want to do." Leading Liang on out the back door, they came to a small screened area just outside. A few curls of steam rose from inside the screens to the sloped roof overhead, showing that the bath was indeed ready. Sliding one of the screens away, the two women entered, Xi closing the screen behind them and obscuring the view of any outside again. "I hope it isn't too hot for you, Lady Liang," she commented, her own elegantly braided hair twisting a bit with the motion as she bent down to put a hand in the steaming waters that had been poured into the carefully sculpted wooden tub set into the ground- one of the few luxuries on Liang's estate.
"I'm sure it's fine for me," Liang replied with a strange note in her voice as she watched the young woman's movement closely. "Did it feel fine to you?"
"A bit hot for me, but not too bad..." Xi breathed softly, turning back to Liang. "Your clothes are kind of dirty," she noted as she once again reached over and began removing said clothes from Liang, the lady's well-toned bare body becoming visible bit by bit as garments were shed. At last, with a deep breath released in a long, cleansing exhalation, Liang sank into the steaming waters, letting her body adjust to the heat for a minute before ducking her head underwater momentarily. Re-emerging with another deep breath, she blinked droplets of water away and glanced back towards the young woman crouched nearby who now seemed to be debating whether the smelly, filthy cotton garments Liang had worn for the past two weeks were worth trying to wash or should just be discarded.
"Don't worry about them, I'll just get more," Liang noted, casting a glance at the pile of clothes then looking back to Xi with a light grin.
"O-of course, Lady Liang," Xi blushed softly, moving to kneel upon a cushion at the tub's edge and collecting the locks of Liang's hair floating about on the surface of the water into one clump again, running her fingers through it a few times before producing a fine-toothed comb. Her hair was not especially long, falling only to about the middle of her back even sopping wet like this, but it was certainly relaxing to have someone tend to it. Much as it was also relaxing to have someone massage her tired shoulders, as Xi then moved to do, her gentle hands rubbing away much of the remaining stress and stiffness lingering in her muscles as Liang closed her eyes, enjoying the tender ministrations.
After a good bit of this, one of Liang's eyes opened again, fighting away the drowsiness that the hot water and massage were creating. "Have Liu draft up a letter. I will review it first thing in the morning." she said languidly.
Lang Liaoxi
I commend you for your exceptional courage in the face of such growing threats, although I of course expected no less from you. I am sure that you are aware that this is only the calm before the storm which will surely prove to be an unpleasant time of war. I hope that we may remain upon the fringes of it, yet we must continue to stand ready at all times. I hope to reassure you that you can count on my unwavering support in this critical time.
Lady Liang
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Re: The Purple Unfortunates
A couple days after the delivery of the letter, a messenger arrives for Lady Liang. The envelope looks ornate and well sealed.
(OOC: Bring either 300 troops, 300 arms, or 400 units of gold to Lang Liaoxi in order to win the favor the Purple Unfortunates.)Dearest Lady Liang,
I hope you are doing well.
I thank you for your unwavering support during this time. As of now, we are trying to find a way to deal with the upcoming storm. We are working on peace negotiations with our neighbors, in hopes that they'll leave us alone.
In order to deter further pushes on us, we are attempting to gather supplies to keep us stronger. We're working on many projects right now, in attempt to build a defense in case negotiations go awry.
As of now, we are trying to gather 300 more troops, 300 more arms, and 400 units of gold in order to further strengthen our defenses.
If you could bring any of these to our armies, it'd be greatly appreciated. Of course, we understand that you are going through your own troubles, and we wish to not burden you with this request.
Stay Well.
Lang Liaoxi
Re: The Purple Unfortunates
One afternoon, a small convoy consisting of two carriages flanked by a modest escort of riders arrived in Liaoxi from the west. The cavaliers wore the red jade of Lady Liang, also prominently displayed with her insignia on the carriages, making it apparent to all from whence the group hailed.
As they rolled and trotted up to the courtyard, the convoy came to a halt. The coachman on the foremost carriage dismounted and opened the door for the occupant, a tall man with broad shoulders that caused his red jade robes to hang a bit loose upon his frame. His hair was graying about the temples and his forehead bore a few wrinkles marking him to have seen a handful of decades already in his time.
"Greetings," he spoke, advancing towards the guards at the gate. "My name is Zhao. I come with business on behalf of Lady Liang. I offer a gift of goodwill to the governor."
OOC: 400 units of gold traded for a BFF. Liang & Lang 4evz <3
As they rolled and trotted up to the courtyard, the convoy came to a halt. The coachman on the foremost carriage dismounted and opened the door for the occupant, a tall man with broad shoulders that caused his red jade robes to hang a bit loose upon his frame. His hair was graying about the temples and his forehead bore a few wrinkles marking him to have seen a handful of decades already in his time.
"Greetings," he spoke, advancing towards the guards at the gate. "My name is Zhao. I come with business on behalf of Lady Liang. I offer a gift of goodwill to the governor."
OOC: 400 units of gold traded for a BFF. Liang & Lang 4evz <3