Stubborn-ness Eternal

**Emperor** had sent out a stack of summons to his various men out in the provinces. It had been sometime now and he could use a more first hand report on things then simple notes that could have been tampered with. It had been a few days now and with any luck words would spread and bodies would start showing up. It wasn't long before he was told Gao was upon the island and a meeting area was secured for the purposes of receiving him with open arms and generous offers. The news would decide whether or not he'd be sharing any of course! There was a great expanse of a small feast with exotic elk meat sliced in thin slabs, seasoned with basil, garlic, and butter. The steam wafting up with the delicious aroma. Cherries, cinnamon sprinkled apples, and plums littered about the roast as dessert and garnish. Wine and stouts set in tankards and cups. The Imperial mastiff sat with his back to the roaring flames his hulking build casting impressive shadows across the bar's balcony. His robes pressed and hung with perfection as well his mane straightened and his black beard oiled. Face sat in neutral dourness as pre-usual as he waited for those who would show up for the meeting.

**Guandao** had sure as sugar arrived upon the island. Large form was like a legend incarnate standing among people. Seven and a half foot form stood tall and proud. Form was adorned with silks and armor befitting someone of noble warrior roots. Golden armor plates and scales were very much in chinese styles, covering the majority of his body. Befitting a Pixiu's curse to obtain wealth, and the clothing he wore underneath was of a bright red colored silk. Soft fabric was also filled with cotton, make an impromptu silk gambeson. Armored from head to feline feet. Digitigraded legs made the armor pieces along his legs a rather custom designed endeavor, and his feet being bare. Dragon lion was an even combination of both species. Two draconic horns rose from forehead, straightened mane flowed around them. Large lion mane was a dark brown color, and flowed into that long full beard of his. Also combed straight and reaching down to his navel. Three weapons adorned his form. >

Guandao's back was covered by a halberd, and a chinese style dual head battle ax. Upon his left hip was a chinese dao. Whole body was muscled quite well, but not outwardly broad and wide like western warriors. Form looked covered in densely corded muscles, like someone that was heavier than they looked. Golden eyes looked out from within leonine face. Upper torso was clearly lion to about his hips, where it turned into two draconic/lion blended legs. Mostly scaled, and feet a combination of talons and leonine paw pads. Dual wings upon his back tucked neatly against his back, and unimpeded by his weapons. Large draconic leonine creature moved with ease and grace throughout the Tether. Brute moved aside doors with ease and slid past the crowds of people. A hand waved towards the rooms, and a strange fox-like creature made its way towards the rooms. Brutish creature emerged into the area where he was instructed. Standing tall, and with hands crossed behind his back. "My liege." Guandao spoke quietly to make sure that Emperor heard him.

**Ankha** arrived mere moments after her husband had settled comfortably in his chair. Draped in shimmering ivory linen and layered silk, with accents of sky blue draped over shoulders in an opaque shawl whose hem was decorated with tiny silver bells. Around her neck was a heavy beaded necklace that featured a large ankh in its center, complementing the beads woven into her mahogany hair and the gem-studded bracelets and rings upon her wrists and hands. The Egyptian ascended the stairs at a leisurely pace, one hand holding onto a long opium pipe and the other gently lifting the skirt of her dress so it wouldnt drag too much on the floor. Exhaling a cloud of silvery smoke as she advanced towards Emperor, "Husband," Ankha greeted cordially, dulcet tones carried by a thick Arabic accent.  Ankha inspected the lavish spread of food upon the table with interest before taking a seat, one leg neatly crossed over the other, pipe placed between lips to taste another dose of opium. "I see you have received answers to the summons," for this feast was not for her sake, she knew that well enough. It was not long until Gao did arrive, the hybrid General earning quite the lingering stare from the jackal. Scrutinizing and admiring, though she did not address him yet, indulging in a few more puffs from her pipe instead.

**Emperor** would take note of the russet presence as the man arrived in all his glorious splendors of silk and gold armor. Looking well off and healthy. Trained, toned and athletic. It was a good thing to know the wealth of the man hadn't spoiled his trainings any. Eyes wandered over the weaponry. But not out of curiosity on the types he might use but looking to what condition they might be in. Had they seen many battles or where they nearly pristine and left without the taste of blood upon them. Were they sharpened and well cared for or dull and neglected...The mastiff nodded to acknowledge his being there and the greeting. "Zongshi is a fine greeting. No lieges is necessary. It has been awhile. Do sit and tell me what you've encountered. Your martial arts is going well I hope?" Emperor And about this time he gestured at the seat, was when his wife did appear in a fabulous shimmering gown. He stood and gave her a respectful dip of his head. "Ah wife so nice of you to also join us. Do meet Gao. He's an up and coming commander of mine. A few prospects that might gain the title of General should he play his cards right." At this eyes drifted towards the pixiu and then back towards the Empress. Resettling into his chair and taking up a silver fork that looked more like a pitch fork with two sharpened pongs and stabbed into a slab and brought it into his mouth to chew.

**Guandao** arrived about the same time as a jackal-ess just before himself. Golden eyes made eye contact with her, and he adjusted himself. Body keeping a straight posture, but subtle flexing of his form to truly show off the magnificence of tall form mixed with gold plated steel and silk padded gambeson. For short description, he was handsome if you liked your men tall, bearded with a lion's mane, and also a heavyweight martial artist. So the brute wasn't lean and skinny like Bruce Lee, however he wasn't as bulky as western barbarians and knights. Threading that line of having mass mixed with a fine line of leanness and compact muscles. Definitely didn't look like he weighed over three hundred pounds. A polite bow was given to both of them as they spoke. "Zongshi, and Madame." Corrected in his greeting before he moved to take a seat at their table.  Guandao stopped at his seat and removed his weapon. Halberd was about eight feet in height. Barely taller than himself. Shaft was of Burmese Ironwood, a beautifully stained and oiled dark color. Head was a heavy looking implement, the actual mount was disguised as a lion head. with the mane coiling around the shaft to hide the rivets used to attach it. As the lion's mouth open there was a large ax blade, and out the back of the Lion's head was a small steel block, shaped as a warhammer. And out the Lion's nose was a sharp spear head. Next he removed his ax, shaft also made of Burmese Ironwood. Stained and oiled to a dark color. Dual ax heads appeared to be spouting out of the mouth of a lion on the right, and a dragon on the left. Their manes and neck hiding the rivet and mount that held the weapon onto the shaft. Ax was kind of short, only about five feet long. Lastly his Dao was removed. Large three foot sweeping blade emerged from the mouth of a dragon.[>]

Guandao's handle was a stained and polished dark autumn colored rosewood. Crossguard was styled like dragon wings, and the pommel was a coiling Dragon's tail. Each weapon was sharpened to cut flesh, but left thick enough to resist any nicks and chips or damage. There were clear signs of wear and tear, pieces of shafts that were smoothed after being chipped, ground down sections of sharpened blades where they chipped, or folded over. Armor also looked as if it had been repaired a few different times and replated. The male's body and weapons as well as armor were anything but show. Pixiu devoted himself to the art of war and the betterment of his body. "My report, Zongshi, is sadly lacking. I've managed to recruit and train quite a few soldiers for your cause. At the least a few hundred or so. The Yellow Army has been quite silent in my vicinity... which is never good." Mused softly before he gently settled himself upon a seat, and waited for permission to eat.

**Ankha** is courteous to ensure none of her smoke floats into the faces of the two men that are her company, lulled into a complacent demeanor by the strong drugs she'd mixed that morning. Content with the dosage, the Egyptian snuffs out the ember in the pipe and sets it aside, keen to focus on the meeting. "Gao," she reiterates the man's name in her curling accent, "I am Ankha," but she would not correct him if he continued to address her with a respectful title. Wine is taken in hand to quench her thirst from smoking, lapsing into polite silence to hear the brief report Gao has to share. "In your campaign, have you chanced upon any mages or witches of note?" She asked placidly, emerald eyes drifting almost lazily up and down the hybrid's form before fixating on his face. "Armies can always make use of magic users."

**Emperor** seemed to take a great interest as the tall commander went about removing the weapons. It wasn't the halberd that one might expect to grab his attention; being that it was one of his own personal favorites...but the dao sword. It's dragonic shaping and coiling tail reminiscent of his smoking pipe. And that his wife had also been smoking prompted him to draw out his own lavish pipe work from the depths of the elaborately lengthy sleeves. Made from a deep red mahogany wood and carved round the metallic shaft. Ruby gems were sculpted into flames spewing from the tip as if the dragon was blowing fire. "That is an impressive set you have I should duel you some time." Handing the set over to his wife to handle the stuffing and lighting as he was lacking in a current attendant and it would be more of a wait to summon a slave for it. The dimly lit orange pupils shift towards Gao and his lackluster report.  An exhale of breathe at his disappointment. "I see..." When his jackal wife mentioned mages ears lifted with interest and expectations for some better news to follow. Studying Gao's face in hopes there was something more to report. -e-

**Guandao** smiled softly towards Ankha as she seemed to examine him from armored paw/talons and to bared head. Golden eyes examined the Anubian woman and the Mastiff in turn. It wasn't long after he won that tournament in unarmed and armed categories that he'd been offered a job as a Battalion Commander. Large right hand reached up to stroke through his dark auburn brown mane idly, youth kept any gray hairs from peeking through his mane or beard. Sigh was given as he tried to recollect the report that he prepared. "The lack of activity is not a lack of my abilities... there's nothing. Roads that were dangerous because of ambushes? Clear. Encampments we've found and raided? Empty. Whomever is instructing and leading them are pulling their forces back." Large hands rested upon the tabletop. "This is not a surrender of territory, but a gathering of forces. That's my best informative guess." Chuckle given as he shook his head. "As for magic... this is the Yellow Army." Guandao leaned back and looked between them. "They've got enchanted weapons and magic to boot. Alas our chi searches and scrying techniques have turned up nothing near myself. Even interrogating and searching the new recruits there's nothing. We haven't had a spy in months." Large eyes looked over to Zongshi and he nodded to him. "As for the offer of a duel, it would be an honor, Zongshi. You look like quite the formidable warrior." Commented softly before he looked at the food and drink. "I hope Zongshi, nor Madame, mind if I have some food and drink? It was a long journey."

**Ankha** has little interest in testing the battle prowess of Gao, unlike her husband, though that notion is quite intriguing to consider. She'd seen the Emperor at war but not in a friendly spar for quite awhile. After a few sips of wine, the jackal muses over the mysterious lack of the enemy which Gao describes. "Regrouping perhaps, or is it a lure? I do not see many other options when withdrawing troops from established territories or camps." Ankha remarked with suspicion lacing her voice, shrewd and calculating, "If I may, request a map that details the camps and places the Yellow Armies has seemingly abandoned. Perhaps there is a pattern to discern." She reaches for a few morsels to spoon onto her plate, "We are severely lacking when it comes to informants, I will see to rectifying that. And find mages on my own merits, as I have quite the experiment to test to bulk up our forces."  Ankha collected a full plate for herself, "I must excuse myself, it was good to make your acquaintance, Gao. I look forward to seeing you more." She turns to Zongshi, "Husband, I will see you tonight, with more details on my idea to provide." Ankh stands and takes a step sideways, so she might lean down and kiss her mate's snout, balancing her plate in one hand. With a polite nod, the jackal departs, hips sashaying as she went.

**Emperor** scoffed as he repeated within his mind. Nothing...nothing. His brow giving a twitch as he felt the rage slowly boiling under the bushels of his fur. That the yellow army could be dubbing him yet again. And here they were left with their pants down and no information to be had. A grit of his teeth as he sank them into the meaty flesh of the elk to distract him from his woes. "Go ahead and eat..." Gruff vocals vibrated with a deep bassy thump dispelling from his gut. Though he was angry to be sure it wouldn't be fair for the man come all this way to tell him nothing. Had his wife not been there he might have offered him only the scrapes on his plate like a dog...but the jackal had ways that gentrify him and such would not likely be a good look in her eyes. Lucky she was here on this occasion or things would have the higher risk of turning sour. "When you've brought me better news then you'll the honor of facing me.  I'll set up our own expedition for those I deem suitable to the General title." As his wife departs he takes back the abandoned pipe and places it back on his lap. "I am already in the process of rectifying it but yes a map drawn to detail these positions would be helpful. I leave the rest to you Gao." A scrutinizing squint of his eyes was given as he too would stand and leave Gao alone with his feast. He had his mind to clear and now a pipe that needed to be packed properly. Obviously he could do this himself but was just too stubborn to let his ego go unstroked.

** Guandao** breathed in deeply and sighed, reaching up to rub at his face. Mind racing as he built his thoughts and went about putting them into words. "You two are missing the point." Blatantly said as he removed his hand from his face. "This is not 'nothing' this is not 'failure,' this is a declaration! What do you do when you're planning to mount an offensive? You withdraw your troops from areas too dangerous to hold, or unimportant." A large hand reached into his armor and withdrew a map of his area. Folding it out to show the marked areas of abandoned ambush roads, encampments, and areas where they used to catch meetings, spies, et cetera. Even villages sympathetic towards the yellow army. "They are moving, they're mounting an offensive, and they're gathering their forces." Brute spoke with conviction as he sighed and leaned back in his chair. "Fine, if you think I failed... I failed. Look at this as me reporting nothing then... but I think you're both failing to grasp that after months, and months of spying, prodding, and ambushing... they're gone. Not cloaked, not hiding... they're gone, Zongshi and Madame!" Voice rising a bit, not having the booming bass of Emperor... but a very commanding and deep resonating bass voice. Gold eyes flicked between them as they both left. Gao reaching down to gather up a large meat and vegetable meal for himself, with several tankards of ale. Before eating at the table alone.