Thanks Satan

[The Gourmand]

April 2nd

It was daybreak. The red from the rising sun crawled down from the shadow of the mountains. The crimson light struck the enormous merman dead on, almost giving the impression that he was bathed in blood: as if the Dawnseekers needed any more reminders of just how ruthless the commanding officer could be.

And today, they would be learning from him.

The Gourmand lifted his right arm to one side of him and, with an audible metallic noise, his harpoon weapon unsheathed to its full size. The carved crystal blades glinted and made a deep hum of magical energy. Slowly, he brought the harpoon closer to himself, blade facing upward, and then, after several minutes pause, he slammed its blunt end into the snow.

“The Freedom Fighters were a joke!” the Gourmand boomed, commanding the attention of his gathered trainees, “No more!!”

He let out a breath, like a bull about to charge, steam billowing from his nostrils. Fingernails tapped the rod of the harpoon as his eyes scanned the Dawntreaders with all the scrutiny of a god amongst men. He whipped the harpoon from the snow, throwing chunks behind him, appearing red like a blood spatter in the strange lighting.

“We are not the most pathetic army; not anymore. Our enemies must learn to fear us! And for them to fear us, we must become warriors. True warriors!”

The Gourmand leaned back in his seat, eyes narrowing.

“This will not be an easy path. It is a path wrought with hard work and the rendering of your very emotional psyche: most of all if you had not yet made your first kill,” the Gourmand thundered, “But you must be prepared to do what you need to if your enemy refuses to yield -- our ultimate victory may very well rest upon the shoulders of any one of you. Remember, pain is only weakness leaving the body.”

A sneer crossed his face.

“You will be recognized based upon your competence. Any past titles, any past illusions of grandeur and destiny: abandon them now for your own sake. Do you want my respect? Ha ha ha hahh… Then prove to me you’re worthy. Prove to me you can be a warrior!”

The Gourmand’s face twisted into a smile as he lowered his head, obscuring it in shadow, save the glow of his eyes.

“If you’re prepared… step foreword. And we… will begin.”

[Kiara]

Paws shuffled uncomfortably as red-hued eyes slid down the line of milling soldiers, taking in cadets and Dawntreaders alike. Kiara doubted she was the only one who felt a bit... Uneasy, given the identity of their new commanding officer. The Gourmand wasn't the most inspiring of individuals, nor did he seem to give off any air of empathy for fellow creatures. On the contrary Kiara was certain he'd suffer not a whit if they all were to spontaneously drop dead.

That aside, there must have been some reason for him to have been chosen for the position. Just because Kiara wasn't aware of it didn't mean she couldn't respect the choice.

She didn't have to like it though. Liking him had nothing to do with respecting him.

The Gourmand's words bit at Kiara like flies, prompting her to stand a bit straighter. It was as though he spoke of her, her family, her former status. Taunting through tone because of what had been. A stubborn gritting of her teeth was the lioness' answer. She wasn't a pampered princess to be coddled and kept from the fighting -- she could learn to fight just like the rest! Tactics could be learned and her body moulded to muscle. She could prove to everyone that she was more than what they'd thought her to be.

Kiara wanted to prove that she was worth... Something. Some regard for who she was not as a royal, but as a person.

She wanted very badly to make her... Father... Proud. To live up to everyone's view of him. To honor his final sacrifice as well as every one he'd made under the cover of threat and secret.

Despite her conviction Kiara's paws shook a bit as she stepped forward to meet the Gourmand's gaze, head held high.

[Li Shang]

Another day, another training session. While Li Shang and his men had taken a week or so to acclimate to the cool weather and the incredible sights, his inaction had left him impatient and ready for another round of training. And now, since his authority was now under this "Gourmand" character, he was a learner again. It's an excellent opportunity for the General to test his commanding officer's skill and intent. Besides, it was nice to not have the weight of an entire army on his shoulder.

Then the merman spoke. And Shang wasn't sure what to think.

Certainly, the Gourmand has the spirit of the fighter inside of him, and his points are necessary. All of them didn't gather here to discuss their feelings and fall in love; this is a war, damn it, they came to defend. And yet, there was a hostility in his voice that thinly veiled his own pent-up frustration. Shang had heard that the Gourmand had some bad tastes about authority, and yet they trusted his skills to outweigh the bad history and made him commanding officer. And the bloodlust...

Perhaps the Gourmand is only on our side because he found us first.

The warrior stepped forward, hand resting on his sword. "A General of the Middle Kingdom is always prepared, Gourmand." Shang bowed low, respectful and measured. No matter the merman's intent and hunger for death, he was their leader and as such, his orders needed to be respected. "And while I cannot forsake the appointment of the Son of Heaven, I stand forward now simply as one ready to fight."

His eye caught Kiara's. The princess humbled and disgraced. He felt no pity, but admiration. Here was one who lost so much and still continued on; how could anyone not respect her? In his understanding, she could prove to be a noble warrior and defender of her people and her allies. One day, he'd tell her this. For now, his target and focus returned to the Gourmand.

"What is your next move, commander?"

[Zamora]

There’s a soft noise as another figure steps forward, ears twitching slightly as The Gourmand gives his speech. He doesn’t need to aggravate, uplift, or tear down this one.

Zamora’s killed hundreds before.

Bladed tail sways lowly, body shifting ever so slightly as she listens. Her posture isn’t one of pride or militant attention. It’s at ease, almost relaxed. Fighting and killing came easy to the Pit Beast. A past riddled in scars and wounds, soaked in blood and screams... but it had been a few months since Zamora had put it all into a fight. She could only spar so hard with the soldiers, and the only fight she’d been around was the in-fighting just recent. And she’d been carrying a child in her arms at the time.

She was looking forward to a good brawl. Maybe it could serve a reminder: she wasn’t just some sad, wailing woman, or a gentle mother figure. This was a beast meant to hunt things far larger than The Gourmand himself, and she wasn’t someone to test.

[Shani]

Shani's ears twitched as she listened to the Gourmand's booming voice.
She sat off to the side, tentatively trying to decide if it would be a good idea to join in. She was one of the leaders now, after all, and what good was a leader with no fighting skill?

At the very least, she should be able to defend herself if the need ever arose, right?

She knew that it would be much harder to fight, but surely there had to be some way she could learn, some way she could use her other senses to her advantage. Something twisted in her stomach, the feeling of wanting to know how to defend herself, and those she loved, perhaps? Or perhaps it was worry that they would turn her away if she even tried.
Her stomach twisted again.
Maybe she should have eaten a bit more at breakfast.

Trying to shrug away the insecurities, she strode forward, standing between Zamora and Kiara, her head held high.
She had to try.

[Akando Mato]

Akando’s massive bulk was sitting watching the strange creature that was Gourmand. He had never seen anything like it back in his forest, his home. Crimson colored eyes flick to and from each of his fellow soliders. Lions, some other creatures and humans. His muzzle pulls into a confused frown as he continues to watch silently. Whenever he was called upon it was then he would act.

[The Gourmand]

Crimson-red eyes scanned those poor fools who were brave enough to step up. White smile of flat teeth grew as the warlord gazed upon his trainees. A more displeased look made itself apparent as he looked beyond them, his mind regarding those who had not been brave enough to take his call to action, or, worse, were late to training. The Gourmand would continue without them. He mustn’t be kept waiting.

With a flair only present when he was absolutely giddy, the Gourmand spun his harpoon like a baton before holding it tight and letting it lay across the front of his pod as he set his arm on the armrest. Teeth appeared again in a wide, positively evil-looking, smile.

“Congratulations,” he purred, his eyes squinting as his smile grew, “Very brave. You’re well on your way.”

His showmanship seemed to drop as he rose his head and frowned. It was time to talk business.

“We will warm up with a little one-on-one sparring,” the Gourmand stated, “So I may observe you -- see how much work you need. We will take it from there.”

The Gourmand tilted his head, a brow raising in a sinister facsimile of playfulness.

“Oh and, let’s make this interesting, hmmm?” he said in a musing tone, staring down, “We are all equals here, are we not? Do feel free to challenge yours truly... Although I must warn you, I will make no effort to hide my bloodlust. I know how a Blackblood would think and you shall receive nothing short of the genuine experience.”

He eagerly waited to see if anyone would take his challenge before he continued, staring hungrily, like someone was dangling a big steak in front of his face.

[Kiara]

Oh, this was going to be such a bad idea. Kiara knew that was as much a truth as the existence of the sun. They were permitted to attack the Gourmand? The expression on his face alone spoke to the folly of the thought -- but surely any soldier who could prove that they were willing could earn at least some modicum of respect from their peers.

This was going to hurt though.

Pulling up all three and a half feed of her body Kiara stepped forward again. Her throat felt dry as she gulped for a breath of fresh air.

"I-I will." Cursing her shaking voice Kiara sucked in more air, puffing her chest a bit and tilting her chin in order to look up into the Gourmand's eye. "I challenge you."

[Zamora]

There’s a sharp noise from about nine feet up, and Zamora turns to glance towards Kiara. She could understand what was going on. It was a show of bravery, but....

Well, the was brave, then there was just plain stupid.

Zamora didn’t need eyes to know a bloodthirsty killer when she ‘saw’ one. And while she was certain The Gourmand wouldn’t be permitted to kill anyone, but he certainly wouldn’t go easy on the cub. Who knows how long she’d be in the med bay!

Crest rattled softly as she shakes her head, ears flattened as she chatters. It’s obvious she doesn’t Kiara fighting anything close to his strength.

Calloused hands motion to the two lion cubs, and then herself. In a separate movement, she then points to herself, and then the Warlord.

Either she’ll fight the girls, or she’ll brawl with The Gourmand. She’s not about to let Kiara make a mistake that big, rough backgrounds be damned.

[Li Shang]

Shang stood silently as the Gourmand continued his speech; the General realizing the more his commander spoke, the less and less sure he was of his position. The merman oozed with pride and an almost suffocating sense of self-entitlement, and he offered the group who had stepped forward an opportunity to challenge himself. Shang was considering the options placed before him when he noticed that Kiara had stepped forward. Normally, he would give the sight little heed; he trusted his men and troops and was sure while perhaps they could lose to the Gourmand, they would put up a good fight.

But Kiara was not one of his men. Worse, from what Shang knew, she wasn't much of a fighter to start.

Zamora's intervention was greatly appreciated, and what little Shang understood of her gestures and noises, he agreed; the alien would be a much better match again the two lions. Not that Shang thought this as an offensive notion; on the contrary, the best way to begin to learn to fight is to practice with those who match the feet you stand on, not those who drive you off-balance by mere standing. Wasting no more time, Shang stood forward.

"Sir, I agree with Zamora and challenge you in Prin- In Kiara's place. A horse does not learn when it is beaten for training it has not taken; the lions may kill for food, but fighting a war is a different beast of burden. I have been through war, and much like you, I am familiar with the sacrifices needed to win. Allow me to test the gap between us in honorable combat, and let the others learn the skill we possess."

Shang knew he may be walking into a losing battle. This did not deter him in the least; if anything it invigorated him. To see how far he had to be considered a top warrior allowed him to find a goal from this training, and hopefully become a staunch ally to the Gourmand.