Unusual Alliances

Xing Kah chuckled looking at the deep look of concentration on Xing Lei's face, "It's not as dire as it seems. While the metallic dragon lords are in alliances that is more due to security in numbers and a fighting force that is not well suited to warfare."

"The silver dragons for example are mostly healers, they side with platinum and gold for protection, but all sides bring their wounded to them. The platinum and gold are more akin to knights, they fight with codes of honor, simply put, don't draw your weapon and they are forced by oath to not draw theirs. Makes exploiting them somewhat fun." Kah continued tapping three spots. "The real trouble makers for the metallics are the copper and bronze, like us, they're fighters very prone to fighting as they are talking."

"The chromatics don't do alliances mostly cause they're all vain bastards. The reds are psychos, they're as likely to lash out at friend as well as foe simply cause your breathing bothered them. The blues are crippled by pride, like the golds they aspire to a knights code but it's based on strength and pride. Greens are the schemers, they sell their services as assassins for dealing with key persons of interest. Whites... well, you've seen them. They're half savage." Kah continued pointing out sections as he explained. "Ours is the only really unified force, the Mistress has gone out of her way to ensure we will win."

Xing Lei tilted his head listening, likely the other lords all considered themselves in that regard, still didn't explain why the chromatics didn't ally with each other, even a temporary alliance to break the combined forces of platinum and gold seemed like a good idea... but factoring in their predispositions it was not hard to imagine that each lord was about as social as Destorianaxe was, at least she could be spoken with... well... sometimes. Sighing to himself, when he was honest he could really understand why alliances were a myth for them.

Glancing to Kah, Xing Lei motioned to the surrounding snow realm, "Why are we fighting a battle on two fronts?"

Kah scratched his jaw and tapped the red and white blocks, "Technically we're not. The blues contacted the Mistress about a job so naturally here we are, freezing our scales off. Is why we don't leave witnesses, we're here to kill as many Whitescales as possible, the blue lord has promised to deliver unto us a half dozen suits of draconic plate. While they might be insufferable bastards the blues are the only smiths we can deal with as the reds and coppers are openly hostile."

"While half a dozen suits of armor sounds cheap, one has to realize it's not like human armor. Its bulkier and has more built in support for Lizardfolk and kobolds who wear such suits. On top of this we get decent exercise in bashing up a counter force. All in all we're benefitting." Kah waved away the incredulous look Xing Lei was giving him.

Xing Lei shook his head, "If the Blues are a knight order why are they having a middle man fight their battles? If their armor is just that good, why give it to others when they could use it themselves?" The situation stunk to Lei, the fact that the Blackscales were advancing on the Whites while the Reds were attacking them put the tribe between enemies but for a mere pittance. No matter how he looked at it, even if the Blues required manpower why did they not work alongside to ensure the task?

That thought brought Xing Lei up short. Just what was the point of wiping out a Whitescale village? While it had seemed the Whites couldn't retaliate it was still required to be thorough so there was no escapees. Could it be the Whitescale faction was that weak? Xing Lei couldn't see it, if the Whites were so weak a force could hire in essence, mercenaries, to wipe a foe out why bother wasting the effort? Especially when it was obvious the Blues were a better situated force compared to the target. Was it to save face?

Kah was watching his silent father cocking his head as the kobold seemed to debate one thought over another, in truth he really didn't care about the why of his order. The Mistress gave the order so here they were. Didn't really matter what he thought as long as the mission was completed. "Father, rather than worrying about why the Bluescales want us to kill Whitescales, maybe it would best leave it for your return, well, if the Mistress allows. It will take two weeks to get this information back to her, though it could be longer depending on matters of import. I would suggest returning here in that time and we'll have word on if you may return."

Xing Lei looked up from his pondering and nodded absently, "Very well, I would suggest you return your force back to Destorianaxe immediately regardless, this whole setup seems a trap. I think the Whites and Blues are conspiring to slaughter your troop."

Kah blinked and then chuckled shaking his head, "We have a deal with the Blues, besides, our force is a far more beneficial friend than the Whites."

Xing Lei held up his hand, "This is true but considering what you've said of the battleground isn't it more likely they'd help a faction that is no threat to them draw out our young and talented? Or do you really think the Blackscale General and an elite force of bodytempered kobolds a must deployment for slaughtering savages?"

Kah sat back and blinked. Now that it was voiced, it did seem a touch overkill, between himself and His Shadows Match they really overwhelmed their foes, yet why would they be deployed 'here'? A general and assassin squad would better serve against the Redscale front, not a side contract from the Blues. Xing Lei watched the pensive debate in his sons gaze, the young Lizardfolk tilting his head back and forth as the exposed absurdly counter productive deployment began unraveling before his mind.

Looking up from his thoughts he glanced to the side, "You've heard him my mate, what are your thoughts?"

From Kah's shadow, His Shaows Match popped out her head. Frowning briefly at Xing Lei she looked to Kah, "Move the troop, hunter becomes hunted. If true, watched we are, find watchers, expose truth then act as need."

Xing Kah nodded, "I trust this to you and yours, go and may She guide your blades."

The head popped back down into the shadows, not a movement came from the camp but kobold and Lizardfolk both knew that order had riled the assassin team into movement, they were just that well trained that the camp showed no outward signs of activity, though after a bit Xing Lei did note better armed soldiers silently taking up patrol routes replacing the more lax and tired brethren. "Now I'm more convinced than ever Kah, to get this quality of troop out here to essentially bully the weak has ulterior designs."

After a few minutes His Shadows Match practically leapt from Kah's shadow. "Move we must mate. Newest recruit, Darks Lone Shadow, spotted original watcher, was joined by others. All three moving into range. No troops save for Whitescales, but is large host."

Xing Kah sprang to his feet and nodded, rather than shout and give away his knowledge he reached down into a pack by his seat and handed his mate a black emblem, "Alert the commanders, we move, abandon everything not absolutely necessary." Turning to Xing Lei he sighed, "I'll have someone wait at the cave in about two to three weeks father, regardless of Mistresses intent we'll need you. If this is them breaking tradition, chances are high the chromatics are unifying to remove the Mistress, we need to be by her side."

Xing Lei nodded, "You head on, I'm going for a stroll." Standing he gave the bewildered look of his son a chuckle and turned stalking off into the waning evening light leaving his son to get his people home safe. As for himself, Xing Lei opened his senses, almost like a bats sonar his qi rushed out around him disturbing the fine layer of loose snow on the ground, the white flakes swirling in a short column around him as he turned in one direction and started walking.

With his [Spirit Foundation] he was finally able to circulate his qi outside his body relatively easy, no longer did it tire him to do simple little tricks such as this, in fact it was a good bit of practice. For the watching ambushers it would seem if a localized blizzard was slowly advancing in their direction, while not immediately threatening, Xing Lei could imagine the Whitescales being rather unnerved by the sight. Slowly he walked outwards, his senses stretched as far as he could at his current level, adjusting his oath for the watchers who were trying to stay out of this strange phenomenon's path.

Yet as these advance group could not shake the swirling snow field, one was a rather hulk of a Whitescale, the brutish savage was easily twice as thick as most Lizardfolk, its red eyes were the most shocked of the trio. Its pale knuckles were blanching even more as it gripped a large icicle, the frozen club easy as thick as the wielders thigh. Beside the nervous Whitescale was two others. To the savages right was a slender Redscaled lizardfolk, a winter cloak was tight around its frame with the hood pulled up so just its snout was easily seen, as the snow swirl advanced the Redscale had pulled a slender blade from the depths of its cloak and watched warily.

The third of the bunch was most disturbing. A Lizardfolk of metal stood behind the other two, a tabard of rich navy blue covered a metallic plate chest. A long sword was sheared on its hip and its Cape barely hid the outline of what could only be a kite shield. The visor was open, a hinged mechanism that allowed the face plate to easily protect the reptilian wearers elongated face. Much the its tabard the scales of the third was a rich deep blue, the face however was cold and detached, it watched the advance of the swirling snow with a cool disdain, though wether this was directed at the phenomenon or its freaked out companions, Xing Lei could not tell.

As he stepped within ten feet of the trio he relaxed the revolution of his qi the snow scattering around him, dividing in half as Xing Lei stood before the trio, his clothes fluttering untouched by the cold snow. The three Lizardfolk eyed the appearance of this kobold with a range of emotions that made Xing Lei smile inside. "Well gentlemen, have anything to say for yourselves?"

The question brought a rather dumbfounded look on the Whitescale, the thick albino scaled head tilted in puzzlement, whether the savage understood his words or this was the first time anyone had ever inferred a Whitescale might be a 'gentleman' in either case the brute watched silently as the Redscale snarled pointing a dagger at the kobold, "Who the hell's are you runt? You with those coal scaled bastards?!"

Xing Lei chuckled, his arms crossed the small of his back, his silence was visibly aggravating the Redscale until the armored Lizardfolk behind cleared its throat, "This is a joint venture between myself, Highlord Ferus Azurebane, my colleague Ashen Cloud..."

The Redscaled snarled over his shoulder, "Don't introduce yourself as a gods spat highlord and leave out my title you pompous prick!"

Ferus Azurebane sighed rolling his eyes, "I stand corrected, this is Lord Commander Ashen Cloud, Scourge of the Eastern Belchers, Pirate and privateer extrodaibaire. And our silent companion. Gronk."

The Whitescale grunted which made Xing Lei ask, "Just Gronk?" Which had the the Whitescale snort and grunt its affirmative, it seemed unlike the Bluescale and Redscale, the Whitescale was far less involved in titles.

Ferus sighed and waved a hand to the kobold, "And yourself sir?"

Xing Lei chuckled a spear materializing in his fist held casually before the three, "No one of real consequence, just a distraction to let General Xing get his fellows away while you are busy puffing your chests to me."