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Post by prodigy on Feb 17, 2008 20:41:13 GMT -5
Flames flickered from the torches that were tied to posts leaning against each other in a pyramid for stability. The Evening air was growing cool and the sunlight was dimming across the forest and the Fire Nation Encampment spread out in the valley. The recent skirmish has proven the worth of these troops, these men that the Princess now watched from her Chair. The Thunderfist battlion.. the legendary Earth Kingdom force went up against the best Troops and the 8th Mobile Land Ship Team.. and lost. The mere thought of it made the Princess giddy inside as she sat, sipping a sweet drink from a glass goblet. Never one for tea, a direct rebellion against her kooky Uncle, the Princess had brought with her barrels of her favorite drinks and foods for her and her close friends and of course.. the Goddess, Agni who was traveling with them in disguise.
She leaned back into the chair, a folding design made out of ebony from the Igni Islands and linked together with the finest and endurable fabrics for the immense travel. The princess sat outside a large tent, the crimson fabrics bearing the Royal Insignia of the Royal Family emblazoned in gold and it was were the four girls were staying. Royal Guards had accompanied them, their unique armor with the Full-facial masks, resembling the belly of a old wood-burning stove, the dark shades of crimson that graced their armor. Their single shoulder collar was trimmed in gold, the golden flame of Royalty set in the middle. The armor hid human features, hiding faces and blending the head into the torso with smooth sloping into the shoulders and chest. They were bulky, given the appearance of demons more so than humans.
She sighed, closing her golden eyes and lowering the goblet from her coral painted lips. Victory was sweet. The Princess drummed her claws on the wooden edge of an other wised upholstered armrest as she rolled her head to the side. And prisoners of war had been gathered. Of course, Azula could order them killed at any time.. but then what would their use be. The Kiyoshi Warriors.. Famed across the Earth Kingdom and known to the Fire Nation, She had not expected to find them this far north.. if anything off their pathetic little island. Yet.. they had come. Why? What reasons? Had word of their planned attack reached Ba Seng Sei? The princess waited for a report on how the interrogation process of the girls was going. Also, they were waiting for the troops to finish gathering so that they could mobilize and head out.
To Ba Seng Sei.
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Post by zilong on Feb 17, 2008 23:30:17 GMT -5
The return to camp had not been quite the glorious experience Zilong had been hoping for. Sure, it had started out nice enough. Word spread quickly about just where Zilong had gotten the tetsubo he was carrying, and at first his earlier experience with Agni was overshadowed, even passed off as a blessing for a little while. That was nice. Inwardly, he wondered if the flaming canary herself was watching, and couldn’t help but smile at the thought of her watching as he proved just how much he didn’t need her “blessing”.
Things turned around quickly, though. The Kyoshi Warriors, having been captured by them, were placed under the guard and supervision of the five hundred and second infantry division, as they had been the ones to capture them. On the one hand, this was an honor, but on the other hand, someone still needed to guard them. Only one guard at a time was necessary, as the Kyoshi Warriors wore chains, could not bend, and were locked tightly away in a secure steel cage. The guard was, in fact, more for the protection of the girls than a means of keeping them from escaping. They were, after all, in a camp filled with soldiers who had been away from home a long time. One could never tell what some drunken fool might try during a long tour of duty. So, the guard had to be someone that the men respected and wouldn’t cross. After all that had happened, Zilong fit that bill. In fact, Captain Wenyuan had determined him the best man for the job, so he’d be guarding them for most of the time. He’d get a break at dawn to rest, drill, and check in with his squad, but the rest of the day he would be on guard duty. It wasn’t exciting work, but at least he’d be protecting Princess Azula’s personal prisoners.
Keeping that in mind, he kept himself from grimacing as he entered the makeshift prison, a small wooden structure with a large steel cage in the middle. It was originally meant for housing animals, like tracking beasts, but it was easily converted into a cell. The bars were sturdy, and close together. The girls inside would likely be unable to damage it at all.
“Your relieved, Hou,” Zilong said in a low rumble to the young man standing guard.
“Thank the spirits,” the man said with a yawn, stretching out as he headed for the exit. “Oh, and keep an eye out for some joker from the four-fourteenth with a big mustache. Been walking by here a little too much, y’know. Well, have a good first shift.”
Zilong nodded, and Hou gave a small wave before leaving the building. Zilong walked towards the cage for a few paces, unable to prevent himself from glancing in at the Kyoshi Warriors. Without their face paint and armor, they really were just young girls. It was hard to imagine all the damage they’d done, seeing them like this. Deciding he’d rather not look at them, he turned his back to the cage, placed the butt of his guan dao on the ground and stood motionless. He’d left Bora Gan’s tetsubo back at the camp. After all, it was just a trophy now. Thinking back on the battle only made him anxious. Compared to the excitement of fighting the Thunderfist, guard duty was going to be unbelievably dull.
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Post by aaronaaronaaron on Feb 19, 2008 17:08:44 GMT -5
Sitting to the left of Azula, Ty Lee sat quietly watching the royal fire burn. Already she had forgot the horrific battle, and had become more worried about cleaning the mud out of her feet. She held a wet satin wash cloth to her slightly bruised forehead. She wondered what Azula would have in store for her when they arived at Ba Seng Se, hopefully nothing to dirty.
She had an urge to speak, because it was silent... but she figured now wasn't a good time. Azula looked tense and was probably possesed by thoughts of victory and domination, and if Ty Lee disturbed her she knew that she would be angry. She wondered what Mai was up too, but she would probably just tease her about getting injured.
She frowned and kept to herself, relaxing as the wash cloth soothed away the pain on her head.
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Post by suki on Feb 20, 2008 15:30:37 GMT -5
"Quick, put it away,"came the warning of one of Suki's fellow warriors. Reluctantly, the auburn-haired girl gave the lock one loast twist with the hairclip before abandoning the lock on her cuffs and sitting down beside the others. Aoi's warning preceded the arrival of their usual watchman by just a few seconds, and Suki was able to tuck the rather precious piece of metal back into her hair for hiding.
She watched with cold, spiteful eyes as the soldier Zilong roused the dozing guard and sent him on his way. The large warrior wasn't as likely to slack off on his watch, which meant that it would be quite a while before she could resume trying to pick the lock.
"Any luck?" Kopa asked her in a barely audible whisper.
Still looking straight at the guard to make sure he wasn't paying them too much attention, Suki responded, "I heard something click. Not there yet." Her fellow warriors seemed to accept the report rather stoically. After all, the direness of their overall situation did much to dissuade them from getting their hopes too high over potentially freeing their hands.
For now there was not much that could be done. They would keep their eyes and ears open for anything that could help them escape and keep picking away at their confinements.
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Post by prodigy on Feb 26, 2008 0:48:57 GMT -5
The princess set her goblet aside on the small table that rested next to her chair, both of them able to be folded for travel. Her hand slipped from the cool metal to rise up to her chin, curling her fingers under her hand as she remained blind to the world in front of her, eyes closed. Hm.. this was.. truly dull as Mai might suggest. Nothing was happening now.. the debriefing was being taken care of, and the soldiers were resting. Every now and then some would pass by the Royal entourage of Ladies, the Lady Mai and Ty Lee.. the goddess, Agni among them, secret to all by Azula.
"Ty lee? Mai?" The Princess mused, her voice commanding and sharp as nails on the steel side of a tank. She opened her eyes, staring through long dark lashes with her golden, cat like eyes. Her lips curled into the slightest hints of a smile as she leaned forward, moving both hands to grip tightly the armrests, digging her nails into the grain of the world. "..Shall we go interrogate the prisoner?" She rose to her feet suddenly, planting those curled toe boots on the ground as the wrapped fabric fell to the back of her knees.
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Post by vu on Mar 6, 2008 0:51:56 GMT -5
"Captain?" The burgundied robed man found Vu Ganesa, straddling a log just outside his tent.
"May," he slowly began after sidling up to Vu. Slowly passing a folded book into the officer's hands. "May I ask what you are looking at?"
"Go ahead," unthinkingly clenching a hand about the proffered book while he continued to stare.
"What are you looking at?"
"A change," with the tone of a prophet. "The sign of things to come," he smiled and looked up at the head of his platoon's support staff.
Uncommunicatively, the man merely looked again to where Vu's sight was set upon moments before. He still saw nothing, save for whole constructs and wagon loaded pieces of smaller siege weaponery like the catapults being hitched and hauled by komodo rhinos.
"It seems we won't be hauling those anytime soon," Vu interjected. "Maybe not anymore," grinning with an approving nod before reading through the status report.
"Finally moving up in the world," the other man wanted to believe his commanding officer's optimism.
"Just you wait," Vu said. "Soon enough people like us will be the new cavalry. A new, mechanized cavalry," tinge of pride and hope in his voice.
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Post by zilong on Mar 6, 2008 1:14:47 GMT -5
Zilong heard the clinking of chains that signified the movement of the captured girls, and he heard hushed whispers he couldn’t make out, but all he did in response was turn his head slightly to glance at them out of the corner of his eye before turning his attention back forward. Let them scheme. Let them try to escape. They wouldn’t succeed, not with him here. It was odd that they were even trying, frankly. They were unarmed, weakened from battle, and under surveillance. They were either very optimistic or very determined. He decided they were not simply fools. You could not be a fool and a warrior of their caliber, or that’s what Zilong decided.
But then, though warriors, they were still young girls. How old were they, anyway? For a moment, he glanced at them out of the corner of his eye again, but turned his head back. He’d actually rather not know. He’d rather not know anything about them. This would make this whole thing easier. Not that it was difficult, or it least it shouldn’t be. He cursed mentally. In this dull silence, he could do nothing but think, even though he didn’t want to. This was getting more aggravating by the second.
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Post by suki on Mar 6, 2008 10:38:29 GMT -5
Suki rested against the wall of the cage, legs bent up and arms resting on top of her knees. With a glance around at her fellow warriors, she could tell that captivity had still yet to takes its toll on them. Their make-up had been worn off and several were in need of a good comb, but for the most part they still kept themselves from looking too ragged. Hana was off in her corner doing some limbering stretches while Kopa and Aoi had taken to practicing a hand-eye coordinaion drill with each other. They kneel across from one another and simply attempted to land light strikes while keeping at least one hand in contact between them.
Aoru was was sitting aginst the cage wall much like Suki, but her eyes seemed to be closed in meditation, or perhaps just sleep. She was wise to conserve her energy, or perhaps she just didn't see the point of making preparations. As optimistic as Suki tried to stay, she was also a realist. And it was difficult to finder a silver lining in this situation...
The only real hope the Kyoshi warriors had was the knowledge that somewhere outside this Fire Nation camp, they had an ally who was still free. With her last decision during the battle, Suki had afforded her comrade te chance to flee. If she managed to escape, then there was still a chance for hope to arrive. Even if it took weeks, there was someone who knew of their plight and who could have them rescued.
Suki lifted her gaze up across the room and stared at the giant who was guarding them. Aoru had told her that this was one of them men they had fought on the field, and Suki's second in command felt she had a score to settle with him. The leader of the Kyoshi warrior's was quick to stress that escape would be their first goal before revenge, but still it was satisfying to think about all the ways they could get back at him.
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Post by aaronaaronaaron on Mar 8, 2008 14:48:26 GMT -5
Azula had risen from her chair, and in a firm voice asked her and the ever silent Mai to accompany her to interrogate the new prisoners.
Ty Lee knew what was coming for the earth kingdom prisoners, and she felt pity for them deep down. But it was their fault anyways, for trying to resist the army. So Ty Lee tossed the wet cloth on the ground and stood up with Azula. She straitened her rose pink clothing and fixed her hair a little, parting it on one side. She still looked a little beat up from her mishap with the earth benders during the battle.
"Ooh I wonder if they can tell us where they got those pretty green dresses?" Ty Lee said dumbly to try and lighten the mood. She grinned at the princess, hoping for a hint of compassion from her stern friend...
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Post by prodigy on Mar 15, 2008 19:11:26 GMT -5
"Don't be so stupid, Ty Lee." The Princess scolded, not even giving the young woman a second glance or even a roll of her eyes. Azula paused for a moment, narrowing her eyes as she looked outward across the camp. She had risen to her feet, her posture perfect and pristine. Her hair glittered with a dark auburn tone, it's thickness brushed back into a tiny, fan-shape topknot on the back of her skull. Tendrils hung down the side of her face, the ends slightly curling around her pointed chin.
She folded her arms behind her back, hands nestled in the small of her back, puffing out her chest. She wore no military uniform, but her uniform was enough to draw respect among these men.
After this moments pause, she strode forward. Her stride was easy and unbroken, the years of training and years of balancing books on top of her head as a child ensured a perfect stride. The sash like dress that hung from her waist, swept up at her mid-section., swayed as she walked through the line of tents. The prison cage was located inside the camp, near the edge, so that the men who were growing restless would not interfere with the female prisoners.
With Mai and Ty Lee following her, Azula approached the guarded cage that sat on a military wagon.
A nod was given as her eyes glanced over the Soldier who stood Guard. It was the older gentleman that had presented her with the weapon of the defeated Thunder Fist Commander. Delightful. She made a mention note to make mention of him to her Father, the Fire Lord. What was his name...? Zilong..?
"Sergeant. How are the Prisoners?" Azula lifted her eyes to him, unable to stare down at the soldier, instead she let her fierce eyes do the talking. As she spoke that last word, her golden eyes, the color of pure sunlight, shifted to the women trapped inside the bars.
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Post by zilong on Mar 15, 2008 22:33:10 GMT -5
Zilong occasionally glanced over his shoulder at the girls as several went about their exercises. All but two, anyway. As far as he could tell, they were the leaders of the group. One he recognized as the second one he had defeated, the other was probably defeated by Princess Azula. Right now, they weren’t doing anything he needed to worry about, but he decided those were the two he had to watch more carefully. Well, as carefully as his attention span allowed. He was about a minute away from total boredom when the Princess entered the makeshift prison. Immediately, Zilong brought his weapon and feet in tighter together, straightened his posture and saluted.
"Sergeant. How are the Prisoners?"
“Complacent, your highness,” he replied. “They don’t seem to be worn down though. They’ve been doing exercises since I arrived, highness.”
He was saying “highness” too much again. As he held his salute, he realized that he would have to make a conscious effort against that.
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Post by suki on Mar 18, 2008 18:01:59 GMT -5
Suki's eyes narrowed dangerously as the silhouette of the princess appeared on the flap of the tent that covered their enclosure. Azula and her lackies were the only young women among the Fire Nation forces, so even her vague feminine outline was recognizeable. Suki withheld the urge to stand and threaten the girl who had bested her on the battlefield, and instead opted to make her distaste known with a different tactic.
The leader of the Kyoshi warrior shifted her position, turning slightly away from the princess as she conversed with the guard, and began picking her nails clean. Suki occasionally stole a glance out of the corner of her eye to regard the princess, but otherwise she ignored her presence. She would not acknowledge her, nor show any respect. She would let Azula see that removing the dirt from her fingernails was of higher priority than speaking with a member of the Fire Nation royal family.
The other warriors paused briefly in their activities, but after a glance back at Suki they seemed to follow her example. Hana resumed her stretches while Kopa and Aoi continued their training exercise. Aoru simply stared impassively at the ground before her feet, not seeming to even notice that they had new company.
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Post by prodigy on Mar 28, 2008 1:11:38 GMT -5
"At ease, Sergeant." She commanded, closing her eyes as she nodded at his words. The Princess took the news well.. so they were just doing whatever.. well that certainly wasn't much to be given news about. However, they were still able to talk to one another.. That was never wise, especially with women.
She pressed her lips together, her dark lashes settling on her cheeks. "Dear me.. Well we can't have them gossiping like women are prone too, Sergeant Zilong." She spoke again, lifting her gaze back to the Guarding soldier even as she threw a gaze towards the prisoners, stripped of their weapons and their protective armor. A slender hand, a deadly weapon, lifted up to her jawline, brushing back a tendril of hair for no apparent reason, her cat-like gaze meeting for a brief moment with the dung-colored eyes of the lead warrior. How disgusting their color was. She let her eyes drift away again, this time glancing over to the acrobat who traveled with her and the governor of Omashu's daughter, Ty lee and Mai.
"As soon as we arrive in Ba Seng Sei, I want them placed into seperate holding cells, until then, You and the other men on duty are to be double vigilant. I want any trouble reported directly to me." The Princess spoke to both the guard and her minions, hinting that Ty Lee and Mai were also responsible for these prisoners being that they, as her friends, were second highest up in the chain of commands here in the Fire Nation military. She lifted a hand up to her face, a fist that she slowly uncoiled. A blue spark appeared briefly, then another, and another as arc of lightning danced between her thumb and her middle finger.
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Post by zilong on Mar 29, 2008 1:01:16 GMT -5
Zilong watched the Princess as she gave orders, nodding where it was appropriate and in general looking fairly rigid. He tensed a little when he heard her insinuate that the two girls she brought with her would also be guarding the Kyoshi Warriors. He could handle these girls himself. He didn’t need help, and he certainly didn’t want it, even from the Princess’s personal guard. Still, he wouldn’t question her. To question Princess Azula was to question the will of the Fire Nation itself.
“As you wish, highness,” he said, mentally slapping himself for saying the highness again. “Uh, would you like to question the prisoners?”
He hesitated in saying the last sentence. He didn’t want to suggest that the Princess wasn’t sure what she wanted to do or anything, but he decided it would be appropriate. After all, it would be worse if she wanted to question them and he just stood there like some idiot.
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Post by suki on Apr 2, 2008 9:48:17 GMT -5
Despite her decision to ignore the Princess, Suki couldn't quite ignore the order she gave. Splitting them up? Suki's grey-blue eyes lifted from her fingernails and focused on Azula. Did that pompous royal prat know about their attempts at escape? Or was she simply just being cautious? Whatever the case, this was not good news.
The leader of the Kyoshi warriors glanced over to her fellow inmates who all seemed to have stopped their own activities at that news as well, their gazes torn between the Princess and their commander. Even Aoru manged to look up from the floor for a moment. Suki felt the weight of her position pressing down on her for a moment. However, she would not give in to despair at any cost, so instead she simply straightened up in her seat and offered the slightest nod to the others before resuming cleaning her nails.
Azula said that they would be moved once they reached Ba Sing Sei, which gave them at least a little while left together. It just meant they would have to redouble their efforts.
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