FA+
Shop
693
Views
Views
79
Favorites
Favorites
Category
Artwork (Digital) / Fantasy
Species Dog (Other)
Size 900 x 1200
File Size 157.9 kB
Report this content
More from Clostridium
Listed in Folders
Autumn, Eighteenth Year of the Xin Zhuo Emperor
“Lima Sadadao of the Oei is here to parley with Vrana Stormcloud.” Feiyang announced to the cyno pirate’s assembled party in the crowded inn filled with banners and lanterns and steamer baskets.
Ten days after the visit to Laoma, Vrana had gotten back into the swing of things, profitably raiding the smuggling towns along the Shamien. The attacks were greatly helped by the addition of a new squad leader among her pirate crew, the overweight Berang. Frahat was not the brightest of individuals, he had no combat or leadership skills to speak of, and in fact he appeared to be something of an abject coward. Still the Berang was big and intimidating, and Vrana knew after being rescued he would remain loyal, so she appointed him above far more capable and thus dangerous individuals. On several occasions, local defense forces had fled immediately upon seeing Frahat leading his band of pirates roaring towards them.
After clearing the coastline Stormcloud had been preparing her fleet for a massive sweep through Yue when one of her frequent darting massage ships arrived and abruptly caused the cyno to cancel her invasion. Instead, Vrana ordered the fleet to regroup at Amoy, taking only the Sea Bitch to quickly sail up North to Jinmen.
“Don’t look at me like that.” Vrana stated in response to Feiyang's questioning glance. “Lima may have just found something I've been searching for a long time.”
A few days later the Sea Bitch had docked at the busy trading port of Jinmen and together with twenty picked crewmen-including Frahat- Vrana found the designated inn with massive red and black placards and red and green lanterns out and entered.
The cyno clapped as she walked into the steamy cacophonous room full of lunching and drinking patrons. “Ah, good. This should be a good location. Frahat!" She barked. "Prepare the Guard! Lima’s an old comrade from the Mingzhou days. You all better look nice.”
The Berang bowed. “Yes, Mistress.”
As the wokou party walked in and lined up, ornately dressed but with swords, maces and polearms at their sides, the other customers noticed and conspicuously moved off to one side before continuing about their tasks. The beady-eyed purveyor quickly and silently provided Vrana with a cup of rice wine, to which the cyno thanked with a bag of coins before immediately downing the cup.
“Let me know when Lima shows up. My crew drinks after the exchange is completed.”
“Of course, Mistress Stormcloud.”
As they waited and the alcohol began to hit after a few more drinks, Vrana couldn’t help herself but explain the situation to Frahat awkwardly standing beside her.
“Lima says he found something valuable, but I’m not sure if he knows how valuable his find was. That Oni was always a bit provincial, but he knows enough to give me the first pick. I have an idea, because I know what looters poking around Weiyang mounds can find. We make a good team.”
The slightly buzzed cyno leader then stopped to carefully look over Frahat’s dress. The Berang had been clad in ornate mountain pattern armor- with Lady Stormcloud’s armorer needing to adjust several plates of scales in order to cover Frahat’s body- as well as a wide brimmed felt hat with armored cap and an ornate red plume.
With a laugh she slapped her companion on the back.
“You look like a demigod! Good!”
Then came Feiyang’s announcement. As another pirate group entered the tavern, Vrana quickly picked up her shield and sica and admonished her guards, specifically focusing on Frahat: “Shut up, look fierce, and don’t do anything stupid.”
Soon enough the other party filed in, also twenty in number, similarly ceremoniously dressed and dangerously well armed. The two pirate factions immediately noticed each other and casually but clearly lined up to face each other. With that, the temperature in the tavern appeared to drop, and suddenly the other clientele of the inn all but disappeared.
Finally a tall, sun burnt man with a shaved forehead and a bushy beard walked in. Vrana immediately greeted him.
“Hey you ugly gnome! Gotten sick of robbing graves like a jackal yet?”
The human laughed in response. “There you are, you flea-bitten mongrel! Done stealing from little minnows like a pelican yet?”
The two pirates embraced, clapping each other on the back.
“It’s good to see you, Lima. Crazy times, these are.”
“Glad you’re still alive-raiding the Crooked River is not as profitable as it’s been anymore, but hey, I’m not complaining about it-whatever helps make my own little money making ventures easier.”
“Certainly a nice time to go looting ancient kofuns. Anyway, you said you got something interesting for me.”
“I do, and it’s a beauty.”
Lima stepped back and gestured to one of his guards, who pulled out an elongated object wrapped in silk cloth.
“Some of the wildcat looters took this one, supposedly from an Imperial tomb no less. Don’t like that-traps and Imperial scrutiny make it high risk-but they succeeded, and of course I couldn’t let something like this go to waste.”
The Oei pirate unwrapped the cloth, revealing a 5 chi staff of fine gilded rosewood, capped on both ends with gold inlaid with jade and rubies and topped by a massive jade carving of a dragon.
Vrana’s eyes widened.
“Certainly something very valuable and authoritative.” The human pirate shrugged. “I don’t care, and it’d be safer breaking it to bits and selling the fragmented parts, but I know you like things whole. The question is, are you willing to pay me for that premium?”
“I can and I will.”
“I’m listening.”
“A month ago I hit a borobudur laden with silk and porcelain and silver. Probably worth a thousand taels at least.”
“You’re gonna have to do a lot better than that.”
Vrana laughed. “I kid, I kid. I have two thousand taels on hand, the borobudur treasure, and three onagers. Five thousand taels. ”
The Berang tried not to gawk.
Lima smiled as he stroked his beard. “Oh very nice, Vrana. Very nice indeed. You must really want this thing. No bargaining, so unlike you.”
“I like the color.”
“Very well then, I accept.”
Vrana gestured, and Feiyang had Frahat and a few others drag out large crates which were opened, revealing coins and jewels and fine porcelain and silk. For an awkward half hour, the human pirate counted the treasures Vrana gave him, and then satisfied that it was accurate, handed off the artifact to the cyno.
“See, isn't this nice? Straight and to the point, no drama. This should happen more often.” The Oei stated with a smile.
Vrana laughed. “Ah but that would be boring.”
With that, the prevalent tension dissipated and both sides began focusing on leaving. Feiyang and Frahat helped wrap the staff in silk, which the cyno placed under the crook of her arm. Somehow, the inn began automatically repopulating with a crowd.
“Pleasure doing business with you.” The cyno concluded, with exaggerated bow and flourish before turning to leave. Lima however seemed to stop and contemplate something else.
“Now, there is one final matter.” The Oei pirate abruptly interrupted.
“Oh?”
“That of your Berang guard.”
“What?”
Immediately the Oei pirates drew their weapons at Vrana’s guards, and two of Lima’s warriors grabbed Frahat from both arms before he could respond. As quickly as the customers had reappeared in the inn they had disappeared again.
Lima himself had his dao pointed at the cyno, and offered a hand out to receive the staff.
“You know, the Emperor has requested that all mao gui like yourself be arrested and sent to the capital. The Empire’s agents have contacted me and offered a pardon and letters of marque were I to send over any of your folk that I find.” The Oei leader smiled at his surprised and fuming counterpart. “Now, now, Vrana, I’m not gonna sell you out-as a professional courtesy and a tribute to our long relationship. But your guard is a different story, especially a Berang that the Embroidered Guard seem particularly interested in. I’ll need to take him in. I’m sure you understand.”
“NO I DON’T YOU SON OF A BITCH!” Vrana yelled.
“Tsk tsk. You’re one to talk, cyno. Our trade is over, but if you’re still salty about your guard, then I can toss in a few extra jewels. Sparing you should have been enough. Give me back the staff.”
Barely containing herself, Stormcloud handed over the staff.
“Now your weapon, Vrana.”
The cyno seethed. “Yah sure.” She pulled out her sica-and immediately threw it at Lima’s head.
All hell broke loose.
Still holding the staff, Lima managed to dodge the spinning blade while he somewhat awkwardly thrust his dao at Vrana, who swung to one side as the blade glanced off her breastplate and then immediately tackled the Oei leader. The Stormcloud pirates, apparently used to such situations, responded with their own secreted weapons. With a yell, full scale combat erupted: blades clashed, figures tumbled and rolled over each other, and bodies crumpled to the floor.
Frahat meanwhile stood quietly beside his two captors, uncomfortably watching the maelstrom around them.
Vrana was trying to tear out Lima’s throat with her teeth as the two rolled on the ground fighting for control of the staff. Smaller but more feral, the cyno pirate finally got the upper hand by kicking Lima in the crotch and tearing away with the prize. As the Oei pirate reeled back- quickly protected by some of his guards-Vrana picked up her sica and noticed Frahat fearfully watching the outcome.
“Fight, you stupid lumbering beast! This is your life everyone is dying over! Show me some of that warrior strength of your people!”
The Berang shut his eyes, and as his captors clung on uneasily, Frahat violently turned, and threw them off with surprising ease.
The ambassador was flabby, abused, had no fighting experience to speak of, but size was a strength all its own.
The Oei pirates immediately turned their attention to the biggest threat facing them, four warriors charging up to the mao gui with daos and hatchets. Frahat backed up and tried drawing the jian Vrana gave him but ended up snapping the scabbard entirely from his belt. Instead Frahat used the blade weapon as a mace, driving back his assailants with furious blows that shattered blades and broke bones.
Lima looked incredulously on as his pirates scattered before the blows. Finally with a yell, the Oei leader himself charged at the Berang. Vrana attempted to intervene, leaping over to attack her rival, but after parrying a few blows, the Oei chief kicked her aside to continue his attack.
“Why are you all scared of that beast?” He yelled. “It can't fight, look!”
Lima skillfully swung his dao. Frahat attempted to parry, but at the last minute his opponent half turned and slashed the berang’s arm, and with a cry Frahat dropped his weapon, then instinctively threw his other fist into the pirate's face. A sickening crunch echoed through the cavernous inn, and everyone abruptly stopped dueling as Lima Sadadao crumpled to the ground, his face smashed in by Frahat’s gauntlet.
Frahat gasped and shied away, before staring at his bloody fist in horror.
After a long pause, Feiyang hesitantly walked over and felt for Lima’s pulse, before getting up and shaking his head.
“Damn.” Ahon muttered aloud.
Vrana didn’t miss a beat. “Any other idiot dumb enough to face Frahat? Feel free to!” She yelled, pointing her sica at the remaining Oei pirates, staring stunned at their fallen commander. “Otherwise surrender and join my crew since it seems like your master is dead. Do I hear any opposition? No? Good! Now bury the dead and carry my shit back to the ship!”
Tan Dun, Yo Yo Ma - To The South
From
solokhoniir!
Original: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/57877966/
NSFW Variant: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/57992407/
“Lima Sadadao of the Oei is here to parley with Vrana Stormcloud.” Feiyang announced to the cyno pirate’s assembled party in the crowded inn filled with banners and lanterns and steamer baskets.
Ten days after the visit to Laoma, Vrana had gotten back into the swing of things, profitably raiding the smuggling towns along the Shamien. The attacks were greatly helped by the addition of a new squad leader among her pirate crew, the overweight Berang. Frahat was not the brightest of individuals, he had no combat or leadership skills to speak of, and in fact he appeared to be something of an abject coward. Still the Berang was big and intimidating, and Vrana knew after being rescued he would remain loyal, so she appointed him above far more capable and thus dangerous individuals. On several occasions, local defense forces had fled immediately upon seeing Frahat leading his band of pirates roaring towards them.
After clearing the coastline Stormcloud had been preparing her fleet for a massive sweep through Yue when one of her frequent darting massage ships arrived and abruptly caused the cyno to cancel her invasion. Instead, Vrana ordered the fleet to regroup at Amoy, taking only the Sea Bitch to quickly sail up North to Jinmen.
“Don’t look at me like that.” Vrana stated in response to Feiyang's questioning glance. “Lima may have just found something I've been searching for a long time.”
A few days later the Sea Bitch had docked at the busy trading port of Jinmen and together with twenty picked crewmen-including Frahat- Vrana found the designated inn with massive red and black placards and red and green lanterns out and entered.
The cyno clapped as she walked into the steamy cacophonous room full of lunching and drinking patrons. “Ah, good. This should be a good location. Frahat!" She barked. "Prepare the Guard! Lima’s an old comrade from the Mingzhou days. You all better look nice.”
The Berang bowed. “Yes, Mistress.”
As the wokou party walked in and lined up, ornately dressed but with swords, maces and polearms at their sides, the other customers noticed and conspicuously moved off to one side before continuing about their tasks. The beady-eyed purveyor quickly and silently provided Vrana with a cup of rice wine, to which the cyno thanked with a bag of coins before immediately downing the cup.
“Let me know when Lima shows up. My crew drinks after the exchange is completed.”
“Of course, Mistress Stormcloud.”
As they waited and the alcohol began to hit after a few more drinks, Vrana couldn’t help herself but explain the situation to Frahat awkwardly standing beside her.
“Lima says he found something valuable, but I’m not sure if he knows how valuable his find was. That Oni was always a bit provincial, but he knows enough to give me the first pick. I have an idea, because I know what looters poking around Weiyang mounds can find. We make a good team.”
The slightly buzzed cyno leader then stopped to carefully look over Frahat’s dress. The Berang had been clad in ornate mountain pattern armor- with Lady Stormcloud’s armorer needing to adjust several plates of scales in order to cover Frahat’s body- as well as a wide brimmed felt hat with armored cap and an ornate red plume.
With a laugh she slapped her companion on the back.
“You look like a demigod! Good!”
Then came Feiyang’s announcement. As another pirate group entered the tavern, Vrana quickly picked up her shield and sica and admonished her guards, specifically focusing on Frahat: “Shut up, look fierce, and don’t do anything stupid.”
Soon enough the other party filed in, also twenty in number, similarly ceremoniously dressed and dangerously well armed. The two pirate factions immediately noticed each other and casually but clearly lined up to face each other. With that, the temperature in the tavern appeared to drop, and suddenly the other clientele of the inn all but disappeared.
Finally a tall, sun burnt man with a shaved forehead and a bushy beard walked in. Vrana immediately greeted him.
“Hey you ugly gnome! Gotten sick of robbing graves like a jackal yet?”
The human laughed in response. “There you are, you flea-bitten mongrel! Done stealing from little minnows like a pelican yet?”
The two pirates embraced, clapping each other on the back.
“It’s good to see you, Lima. Crazy times, these are.”
“Glad you’re still alive-raiding the Crooked River is not as profitable as it’s been anymore, but hey, I’m not complaining about it-whatever helps make my own little money making ventures easier.”
“Certainly a nice time to go looting ancient kofuns. Anyway, you said you got something interesting for me.”
“I do, and it’s a beauty.”
Lima stepped back and gestured to one of his guards, who pulled out an elongated object wrapped in silk cloth.
“Some of the wildcat looters took this one, supposedly from an Imperial tomb no less. Don’t like that-traps and Imperial scrutiny make it high risk-but they succeeded, and of course I couldn’t let something like this go to waste.”
The Oei pirate unwrapped the cloth, revealing a 5 chi staff of fine gilded rosewood, capped on both ends with gold inlaid with jade and rubies and topped by a massive jade carving of a dragon.
Vrana’s eyes widened.
“Certainly something very valuable and authoritative.” The human pirate shrugged. “I don’t care, and it’d be safer breaking it to bits and selling the fragmented parts, but I know you like things whole. The question is, are you willing to pay me for that premium?”
“I can and I will.”
“I’m listening.”
“A month ago I hit a borobudur laden with silk and porcelain and silver. Probably worth a thousand taels at least.”
“You’re gonna have to do a lot better than that.”
Vrana laughed. “I kid, I kid. I have two thousand taels on hand, the borobudur treasure, and three onagers. Five thousand taels. ”
The Berang tried not to gawk.
Lima smiled as he stroked his beard. “Oh very nice, Vrana. Very nice indeed. You must really want this thing. No bargaining, so unlike you.”
“I like the color.”
“Very well then, I accept.”
Vrana gestured, and Feiyang had Frahat and a few others drag out large crates which were opened, revealing coins and jewels and fine porcelain and silk. For an awkward half hour, the human pirate counted the treasures Vrana gave him, and then satisfied that it was accurate, handed off the artifact to the cyno.
“See, isn't this nice? Straight and to the point, no drama. This should happen more often.” The Oei stated with a smile.
Vrana laughed. “Ah but that would be boring.”
With that, the prevalent tension dissipated and both sides began focusing on leaving. Feiyang and Frahat helped wrap the staff in silk, which the cyno placed under the crook of her arm. Somehow, the inn began automatically repopulating with a crowd.
“Pleasure doing business with you.” The cyno concluded, with exaggerated bow and flourish before turning to leave. Lima however seemed to stop and contemplate something else.
“Now, there is one final matter.” The Oei pirate abruptly interrupted.
“Oh?”
“That of your Berang guard.”
“What?”
Immediately the Oei pirates drew their weapons at Vrana’s guards, and two of Lima’s warriors grabbed Frahat from both arms before he could respond. As quickly as the customers had reappeared in the inn they had disappeared again.
Lima himself had his dao pointed at the cyno, and offered a hand out to receive the staff.
“You know, the Emperor has requested that all mao gui like yourself be arrested and sent to the capital. The Empire’s agents have contacted me and offered a pardon and letters of marque were I to send over any of your folk that I find.” The Oei leader smiled at his surprised and fuming counterpart. “Now, now, Vrana, I’m not gonna sell you out-as a professional courtesy and a tribute to our long relationship. But your guard is a different story, especially a Berang that the Embroidered Guard seem particularly interested in. I’ll need to take him in. I’m sure you understand.”
“NO I DON’T YOU SON OF A BITCH!” Vrana yelled.
“Tsk tsk. You’re one to talk, cyno. Our trade is over, but if you’re still salty about your guard, then I can toss in a few extra jewels. Sparing you should have been enough. Give me back the staff.”
Barely containing herself, Stormcloud handed over the staff.
“Now your weapon, Vrana.”
The cyno seethed. “Yah sure.” She pulled out her sica-and immediately threw it at Lima’s head.
All hell broke loose.
Still holding the staff, Lima managed to dodge the spinning blade while he somewhat awkwardly thrust his dao at Vrana, who swung to one side as the blade glanced off her breastplate and then immediately tackled the Oei leader. The Stormcloud pirates, apparently used to such situations, responded with their own secreted weapons. With a yell, full scale combat erupted: blades clashed, figures tumbled and rolled over each other, and bodies crumpled to the floor.
Frahat meanwhile stood quietly beside his two captors, uncomfortably watching the maelstrom around them.
Vrana was trying to tear out Lima’s throat with her teeth as the two rolled on the ground fighting for control of the staff. Smaller but more feral, the cyno pirate finally got the upper hand by kicking Lima in the crotch and tearing away with the prize. As the Oei pirate reeled back- quickly protected by some of his guards-Vrana picked up her sica and noticed Frahat fearfully watching the outcome.
“Fight, you stupid lumbering beast! This is your life everyone is dying over! Show me some of that warrior strength of your people!”
The Berang shut his eyes, and as his captors clung on uneasily, Frahat violently turned, and threw them off with surprising ease.
The ambassador was flabby, abused, had no fighting experience to speak of, but size was a strength all its own.
The Oei pirates immediately turned their attention to the biggest threat facing them, four warriors charging up to the mao gui with daos and hatchets. Frahat backed up and tried drawing the jian Vrana gave him but ended up snapping the scabbard entirely from his belt. Instead Frahat used the blade weapon as a mace, driving back his assailants with furious blows that shattered blades and broke bones.
Lima looked incredulously on as his pirates scattered before the blows. Finally with a yell, the Oei leader himself charged at the Berang. Vrana attempted to intervene, leaping over to attack her rival, but after parrying a few blows, the Oei chief kicked her aside to continue his attack.
“Why are you all scared of that beast?” He yelled. “It can't fight, look!”
Lima skillfully swung his dao. Frahat attempted to parry, but at the last minute his opponent half turned and slashed the berang’s arm, and with a cry Frahat dropped his weapon, then instinctively threw his other fist into the pirate's face. A sickening crunch echoed through the cavernous inn, and everyone abruptly stopped dueling as Lima Sadadao crumpled to the ground, his face smashed in by Frahat’s gauntlet.
Frahat gasped and shied away, before staring at his bloody fist in horror.
After a long pause, Feiyang hesitantly walked over and felt for Lima’s pulse, before getting up and shaking his head.
“Damn.” Ahon muttered aloud.
Vrana didn’t miss a beat. “Any other idiot dumb enough to face Frahat? Feel free to!” She yelled, pointing her sica at the remaining Oei pirates, staring stunned at their fallen commander. “Otherwise surrender and join my crew since it seems like your master is dead. Do I hear any opposition? No? Good! Now bury the dead and carry my shit back to the ship!”
Tan Dun, Yo Yo Ma - To The South
From
solokhoniir! Original: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/57877966/
NSFW Variant: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/57992407/
Category Artwork (Digital) / Fantasy
Species Dog (Other)
Size 900 x 1200px
File Size 157.9 kB
Comments