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Autumn, Eighteenth Year of the Xin Zhuo Emperor
The Governor’s Palace erupted into chaos as blades clashed, polearms swung and arrows whistled through the air, sometimes accompanied by the thump of falling bodies. Trident in hand, Arshak led the storming party in person, Qing by his side using sheets of water to shield the advance against projectiles and disarming opponents by throwing dense balls of liquid at them. Morha guarded the rear, making sure no one snuck up from behind, dealing with approaching enemies by screaming at them and somehow causing torrents of wind to toss them aside. It was crude and chaotic, but somehow it worked.
Still the fighting through the courtyards and corridors were long, bloody and brutal; the palace guards were loyal, and they fought stubbornly; only the facts that the bulk of the defenders had been decoyed out to confront Governor Ce as well as the presence of the two dragons and the anger of the large Berang warriors allowed the strike force to continue driving towards the red Administrative building.
Finally the team of humans, Berang and dragons burst down the heavy gilded oak doors to find the governor behind his desk with his jian lying unsheathed on top, the last score guards ready with their ji polearms and the pair of guardian lions growling at the intruders.
“Governor! We have some unsettled business!” Arshak roared at his opponent.
“Chief Factor, you are a fool!” Governor Mingchen snorted. “Smart enough to trick me with that bastard Ce, but a fool nonetheless.” Without further remarks, the governor gestured with his finger, and with a roar the two guardian lions charged. Qing hurled waves of water at them, but the foo dogs nimbly evaded the attacks and leaped onto the nearest warriors. Arshak barely managed to evade the attack by diving to the ground while sweeping upward with his trident, dealing his assailant a cut across the throax before getting tackled. A Berang nearby was less fortunate, as before he could parry the second lion lunged over and took a massive bite, tearing out the fighter's throat. This guardian lion, jaws soaked red, immediately went after its next victims. Taking advantage of the confusion, the other Panyu guards counterattacked. Qing was forced fully onto the defensive warding off volleys of arrows, as the guards' polearms fixed themselves into an impenetrable bramble of iron, driving back the attackers.
Arshak was still locked in combat against the first guardian lion, with only his armor and the extended shaft of his trident keeping the beast from leaning over too far and tearing him to pieces. The foo dog snarled atop him, snapping and attempting to claw at the warrior below. Slowly, the Berang leader used the inside of his elbow to slide his jian out by the hilt, finally popping it out, releasing a hand to grab the polished weapon in a sword grip, and immediately plunging the blade into his opponent’s heart. The guardian lion crumpled lifelessly atop the Berang. With some difficulty Arhsak managed to pull himself out from under the foo dog, only to see the creature’s furious companion scream at him twenty bu away. Several humans and Berang had fallen before the remaining foo dog-despite a lattice of crossbow bolts embedded in its back- and now the angry carnivore wanted his blood.
The guardian lion leaped into the air-
And immediately collided with a purple streak.
Morha had been trying to summon her winds or lightning this entire time and had been failing at it. When she saw the ambush being prepared for the Berang leader, she decided she had to get more physical.
The two intertwined figures smashed into the surprised Panyu guards, breaking up their formation and scattering the defenders. Taking advantage, Arshak’s strike team counterattacked. With that the fighting swung decisively in the attacker's favor. Within minutes, Arshak’s forces had overcome the remaining guards.
Picking herself off from the ground, Morha massaged a sore arm and looked down to see the guardian lion she had tackled had been impaled by the halberds from the Governor’s own forces.
Meanwhile the Chief Factor himself, helm knocked off, bleeding slightly but still full of energy, leapt up upon the governor's desk.
Thus Governor Mingchen found himself staring down the length of a blade pointed at his throat before he even had a chance to pick up his weapon. Arshak, the Berang Chief Factor had always been dry, unfazeable and inscrutable, but not today. Today, sword in hand, Arshak looked angry, hiding behind a facade of determination.
“Where is our Matriarch, Governor?” The Chief Factor hissed.
Governor Mingchen stopped, confused. “What?”
“Where is Boran? Where is my wife?” The sword poked at the governor's throat. “I'm not going to ask again.”
“Arshak, you've known me for years. I swear on my ancestors, the Heavens themselves, that I don't know where Boran is, or for that matter what you are talking about.”
“You insult the gods and your own family! You incited the riots against us! You attacked us with a legion of Shence troops and dragons!”
“I sent the mobs against the mao gui, yes. Not because I dislike you or your people, Arshak, but because the Emperor himself ordered that all mao gui be arrested and sent to the capital. I obeyed. If you want to kill me for the pogrom, then fair enough. But the last thing I had heard was that your Matriarch had you all abandon the Shamien and your people were fleeing back to Fars. Then I heard of an attack on the river, then you were allying with that bastard Ce at Kialat, before finally hearing that you raised the flag of rebellion and attacked me with dragons and Governor Ce's forces! I thought that you were getting back at me for the massacre. Now I hear your Matriarch is missing?”
“And those prisoners you executed?”
“Hey you're all rebels now. I'm the Governor of Panyu and such is the fate of rebels. If you want to kill me for that, then fair enough as well. But I have nothing to do with Matriarch Kawadokht disappearing.”
“There were Shence troops. The Imperials didn't contact you at all?”
“Check the records if you want.” The Governor frowned when Arshak scoffed at that statement. “Check the secret records if you want. I was not notified.”
That got through as the Chief Factor understood what that meant. “But Imperial troops…that means that the Emperor has her.”
Despite his moment of vulnerability, Governor Mingchen managed to summon up his full calmness and authority. “Sounds like that's the case, Ashak. Now you're captured Panyu, and you've captured me. You're a rebel, Arshak and your head should be on a spike atop the Meridian Gate.”
As the Berang froze, the governor slowly straightened his regalia. “Now, we're both in a fix. What will you do with yourself, and what will you do with me?”
The Chief Factor thought for a minute. Then he raised his sword back to Governor Mingchen’s throat.
“You executed those you captured. Your pogrom killed hundreds more.”
The governor tensed up again, but his voice was still firm.
“Again for the Celestial Throne. If you insist I can pay some monetary compensation as part of the terms of my exile. Your little rebellion won't be able to hold Panyu that easily. We both know that killing me will cause more chaos for you than letting me go.”
The Chief Factor breathed heavily, then sighed, lowering his weapon. “You are correct. Very well, I will formally depose you of this post. As soon as we have your forces surrender, I will have a small escort send you by ship back to Anping.”
At that the Governor smiled as he brushed the dust off his clothes. “Always the businessman, Arshak. Glad I can continue working with you, our present troubles notwithstanding.”
“We are not friends.” The Chief Factor seethed.
Former Governor Mingchen shrugged. “We are not. We are business associates. And sadly it seems our relationship is coming to an end. I bid your family members good health and implore you to flee while you still can, for the full might of the Empire will be bearing down upon you.”
Arshak grabbed the governor and shoved him to the door. “Let’s have you call for an end to the fighting outside, and then you can say whatever you want to say.”
Back towards the center of the room, Qing went up to Morha, rubbing her arm.
*That was very brave of you, and very foolhardy.*
Despite the minor injury, the mušḫuššu smiled. *It worked didn’t it?*
*It did. But I think we need to get you to learn your magic properly.*
*That suits me.*
Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra-Decree of the Sichuan General
From
solokhoniir!
Original: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/56015921/
NSFW Variant: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/56352475/
The Governor’s Palace erupted into chaos as blades clashed, polearms swung and arrows whistled through the air, sometimes accompanied by the thump of falling bodies. Trident in hand, Arshak led the storming party in person, Qing by his side using sheets of water to shield the advance against projectiles and disarming opponents by throwing dense balls of liquid at them. Morha guarded the rear, making sure no one snuck up from behind, dealing with approaching enemies by screaming at them and somehow causing torrents of wind to toss them aside. It was crude and chaotic, but somehow it worked.
Still the fighting through the courtyards and corridors were long, bloody and brutal; the palace guards were loyal, and they fought stubbornly; only the facts that the bulk of the defenders had been decoyed out to confront Governor Ce as well as the presence of the two dragons and the anger of the large Berang warriors allowed the strike force to continue driving towards the red Administrative building.
Finally the team of humans, Berang and dragons burst down the heavy gilded oak doors to find the governor behind his desk with his jian lying unsheathed on top, the last score guards ready with their ji polearms and the pair of guardian lions growling at the intruders.
“Governor! We have some unsettled business!” Arshak roared at his opponent.
“Chief Factor, you are a fool!” Governor Mingchen snorted. “Smart enough to trick me with that bastard Ce, but a fool nonetheless.” Without further remarks, the governor gestured with his finger, and with a roar the two guardian lions charged. Qing hurled waves of water at them, but the foo dogs nimbly evaded the attacks and leaped onto the nearest warriors. Arshak barely managed to evade the attack by diving to the ground while sweeping upward with his trident, dealing his assailant a cut across the throax before getting tackled. A Berang nearby was less fortunate, as before he could parry the second lion lunged over and took a massive bite, tearing out the fighter's throat. This guardian lion, jaws soaked red, immediately went after its next victims. Taking advantage of the confusion, the other Panyu guards counterattacked. Qing was forced fully onto the defensive warding off volleys of arrows, as the guards' polearms fixed themselves into an impenetrable bramble of iron, driving back the attackers.
Arshak was still locked in combat against the first guardian lion, with only his armor and the extended shaft of his trident keeping the beast from leaning over too far and tearing him to pieces. The foo dog snarled atop him, snapping and attempting to claw at the warrior below. Slowly, the Berang leader used the inside of his elbow to slide his jian out by the hilt, finally popping it out, releasing a hand to grab the polished weapon in a sword grip, and immediately plunging the blade into his opponent’s heart. The guardian lion crumpled lifelessly atop the Berang. With some difficulty Arhsak managed to pull himself out from under the foo dog, only to see the creature’s furious companion scream at him twenty bu away. Several humans and Berang had fallen before the remaining foo dog-despite a lattice of crossbow bolts embedded in its back- and now the angry carnivore wanted his blood.
The guardian lion leaped into the air-
And immediately collided with a purple streak.
Morha had been trying to summon her winds or lightning this entire time and had been failing at it. When she saw the ambush being prepared for the Berang leader, she decided she had to get more physical.
The two intertwined figures smashed into the surprised Panyu guards, breaking up their formation and scattering the defenders. Taking advantage, Arshak’s strike team counterattacked. With that the fighting swung decisively in the attacker's favor. Within minutes, Arshak’s forces had overcome the remaining guards.
Picking herself off from the ground, Morha massaged a sore arm and looked down to see the guardian lion she had tackled had been impaled by the halberds from the Governor’s own forces.
Meanwhile the Chief Factor himself, helm knocked off, bleeding slightly but still full of energy, leapt up upon the governor's desk.
Thus Governor Mingchen found himself staring down the length of a blade pointed at his throat before he even had a chance to pick up his weapon. Arshak, the Berang Chief Factor had always been dry, unfazeable and inscrutable, but not today. Today, sword in hand, Arshak looked angry, hiding behind a facade of determination.
“Where is our Matriarch, Governor?” The Chief Factor hissed.
Governor Mingchen stopped, confused. “What?”
“Where is Boran? Where is my wife?” The sword poked at the governor's throat. “I'm not going to ask again.”
“Arshak, you've known me for years. I swear on my ancestors, the Heavens themselves, that I don't know where Boran is, or for that matter what you are talking about.”
“You insult the gods and your own family! You incited the riots against us! You attacked us with a legion of Shence troops and dragons!”
“I sent the mobs against the mao gui, yes. Not because I dislike you or your people, Arshak, but because the Emperor himself ordered that all mao gui be arrested and sent to the capital. I obeyed. If you want to kill me for the pogrom, then fair enough. But the last thing I had heard was that your Matriarch had you all abandon the Shamien and your people were fleeing back to Fars. Then I heard of an attack on the river, then you were allying with that bastard Ce at Kialat, before finally hearing that you raised the flag of rebellion and attacked me with dragons and Governor Ce's forces! I thought that you were getting back at me for the massacre. Now I hear your Matriarch is missing?”
“And those prisoners you executed?”
“Hey you're all rebels now. I'm the Governor of Panyu and such is the fate of rebels. If you want to kill me for that, then fair enough as well. But I have nothing to do with Matriarch Kawadokht disappearing.”
“There were Shence troops. The Imperials didn't contact you at all?”
“Check the records if you want.” The Governor frowned when Arshak scoffed at that statement. “Check the secret records if you want. I was not notified.”
That got through as the Chief Factor understood what that meant. “But Imperial troops…that means that the Emperor has her.”
Despite his moment of vulnerability, Governor Mingchen managed to summon up his full calmness and authority. “Sounds like that's the case, Ashak. Now you're captured Panyu, and you've captured me. You're a rebel, Arshak and your head should be on a spike atop the Meridian Gate.”
As the Berang froze, the governor slowly straightened his regalia. “Now, we're both in a fix. What will you do with yourself, and what will you do with me?”
The Chief Factor thought for a minute. Then he raised his sword back to Governor Mingchen’s throat.
“You executed those you captured. Your pogrom killed hundreds more.”
The governor tensed up again, but his voice was still firm.
“Again for the Celestial Throne. If you insist I can pay some monetary compensation as part of the terms of my exile. Your little rebellion won't be able to hold Panyu that easily. We both know that killing me will cause more chaos for you than letting me go.”
The Chief Factor breathed heavily, then sighed, lowering his weapon. “You are correct. Very well, I will formally depose you of this post. As soon as we have your forces surrender, I will have a small escort send you by ship back to Anping.”
At that the Governor smiled as he brushed the dust off his clothes. “Always the businessman, Arshak. Glad I can continue working with you, our present troubles notwithstanding.”
“We are not friends.” The Chief Factor seethed.
Former Governor Mingchen shrugged. “We are not. We are business associates. And sadly it seems our relationship is coming to an end. I bid your family members good health and implore you to flee while you still can, for the full might of the Empire will be bearing down upon you.”
Arshak grabbed the governor and shoved him to the door. “Let’s have you call for an end to the fighting outside, and then you can say whatever you want to say.”
Back towards the center of the room, Qing went up to Morha, rubbing her arm.
*That was very brave of you, and very foolhardy.*
Despite the minor injury, the mušḫuššu smiled. *It worked didn’t it?*
*It did. But I think we need to get you to learn your magic properly.*
*That suits me.*
Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra-Decree of the Sichuan General
From
solokhoniir! Original: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/56015921/
NSFW Variant: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/56352475/
Category Artwork (Digital) / Fantasy
Species Otter
Size 900 x 1200px
File Size 251.3 kB
Thanks!
Well there is some (pseudo) science behind it, the longs have the ability to seed moisture from the environment and manipulate it to some extent. This will probably never be explicitly stated in the story, but the humidity of the South means that longs are more powerful there (with more water in the environment) compared to the more arid North.
Well there is some (pseudo) science behind it, the longs have the ability to seed moisture from the environment and manipulate it to some extent. This will probably never be explicitly stated in the story, but the humidity of the South means that longs are more powerful there (with more water in the environment) compared to the more arid North.
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