Shadows in the Light

[BetaWülf]

(OOC: Okie dokie, so this is going to start out as pretty much a social thread for us Covenant Militants, hanging out in our Legion Home Territory for a bit of rest. Intended for all Covenant soldiers to enjoy, as well as visiting civilians at the Markets. Will introduce the plot elements a little ways into the thread, probably around page two or three if this takes off. Info thread can be found here)

Jiralhanae Chieftain Garatus the Deathless, Restorer of Tribes, Butcher, Slayer of Shadowed Imps, Burner of Demons
Legion Home World; Ekdo’s Rest
Citadel of Redeeming Vigilance
Jiralhanae Habitat
The Eye of the Storm

Garatus sat in the back of the Jiralhanae habitat of the Citadel of Redeeming Vigilance. Garatus had a large stone throne raised in the back of the habitat, so close to the back wall not even a Kig-Yar could worm its way behind him. Paranoia induced in small part perhaps, as many Chieftains were prone to, but in all honestly Garatus liked it for the view. From the vantage point he could watch all his Pack mingle and spar, though his eyes were on one in particular. Coppery orange fur stuck out from under the blue armor of a Minor, yellow eyes glared out at those around this young one, who sat away from the rest, slowly working on an ale and a surprisingly fine cut of Thorn-beast for such a low rank.

Garatus scratched his beard, flicking a cluster of crumbs free from his recently finished meal. With a brief dismissal of crumbs with the back of his gargantuan paw, Garatus stood and casually descended the steps of his dais. The mingling crowd parted for the Chieftain's passing, Garatus making eye contact with the young Minor he had been watching so dutifully earlier. The Minor didn't look away, something normally a challenge in Jiralhanae society, but Garatus passed him without a word and none present seemed bothered by it.

Garatus grabbed reached out to grab his Gravity Hammer, but paused, simply flexing his fingers before leaving the weapon where it rested against the wall. He normally wouldn't be parted with the weapon, but under the circumstances of being in friendly territory with no one feeling a need or want to challenge him he felt safe to leave it. And besides, he still had his combat knife, and that was enough for any trouble that could arise. Putting down an uppity Major who dare oppose him, or deal with a Yanme'e that had become Unmutual, nothing serious.


Unggoy Ultra Dakek, Son of Ponpon, Father of Fafap, Jolup, Deknek, Donpon, Gropop, Chufchuf, Stenep, Buhnuh, Nuhnuh, Uhnuh, Powto, Vurp, Ampa, Wupwup, Towto, Rus, Yimpyimp, Lothoth, Hanam, Zakek, Kwukuk, Sigsig, Omom, Uhpup, Cofo, Xumxu, Quipip, Ekdono, Mufnu, Sinim, and Juff. Mate of Rafi.
Legion Home World; Ekdo’s Rest
Citadel of Redeeming Vigilance
Unggoy Habitat
Rest rest, relax time

Dakek sat in the Unggoy habitat of the Citadel, happily sucking in fresh methane, wearing his combat harness and a green tabard of an exquisitely soft fabric. It was quite the purchase for him, but he found it was worth it for the comfort he found himself in now. He wore little else, no tank bogged him down, no rebreather pinched his jaw, resplendent bliss in a life of forced servitude.

It wasn't all bad, Dakek knew, at least for him. He was living the high life for an Unggoy in all honesty. He was a war hero, husband, father, grandfather, and had attained the highest rank of an Infantryman. He was even allowed to lead a Unggoy only Lance, submitting only to the authority of Sangheili Ultras.

In the Habitat, Dakek took no flak from his equals or lessers, regardless of what Unggoy unit they belonged to. He was however amicable with most of his fellow soldiers, only having to assert dominance in his own Lance when they first joined into one group. His cudgel was his end game for such matters, for all intents and purposes a stone baseball bat with jutting protrusions along its edges.

"Good times... good times..." Dakek sighed to himself as he nibbled the tip of his claw.

[Faclan]

Eugenius - Jiralhanae advisor.
Ekdo's Rest, Jiralhanae habitat.
I knew this day would come...

Currently sat about fifteen feet away from the Chieftains throne Eugine was busy doing his favorite multi activity activities; eating, drinking, and writing. Eating some meat and vegetables, drinking some ale, and finishing up a journal entry. Thumbing through some pages Eugine noticed that he was almost done with this small notebook as well. Once he had some more free time he would need to go through some of his most recent journals and compile them untill a larger volume. Cut out some of the smaller articles and keep the important ones to add to the tale of his Nephew and the War. But he glanced up when Garatus stood from his throne and started to approach the Pack.

Capping one of his ale canteens he slipped it into his bandolier bag and stood to see what caused such movement and also reaching for a weapon. But the reason soon became clear. Fenarious II had finally arrived in the Pack, Garatus's eldest son. While not immediate cause for celebration or worry it could soon turn into either if the boy decided that now of all times would be the time to take a swing at dear old Chieftain dad. Or he could just be glad to see Garatus. Either way Eugine has his quill poised to write down the first proper meeting of father and son in the military.

At least it was his staff ready to smack.


Cad - Ruuhtian Major
Edko's Rest, Market District.
Recovering well.

Recovery was going pretty well considering how bad he had left that planet. He ws walking and remember most of what had happened on the planet. And so far he had been able to solve the problems given to him and questions asked on recovery to be cleared of major brain damage. Cad assumed the real test would come when he tried to do some combat training. But that was still a ways off as he needed to be careful so his physical recovery could continue. The Ruuhtian currently walking without any crutch or anything like that but just walking a bit slower than normal as he perused the market place. His plan was to eventually head to the Jiralhanae section of the massive citadel to see how his good friend Garatus and his Uncle had fared as Cad hadn't been able to join the sect on their last big mission. But probably best to take a little break and have a snack to be sure he could make it.

So on that thought he purchased a roasted fish on a stick and scooted out of the main thoroughfare to plop himself down on a bench to bite into his tasty hot treat. The Major currently only a Major in deployment records as his file had been redeployed to other more able bodies Majors. But as long as he recovered Cad was sure he could be a Major again, just needed to listen to the Huragoks and take things slow...Damn this is some good fish.


CGR-159 - Yanme'e Swarm
Edko's Rest, The Summit
Looking over this new Nest.

The Ultra, the same with many of the Swarm right now, had never been to this planet. Only the three old members had been here. Those three currently eating as the other eight were fluttering around the large citadel checking on all the things available to them. Where as the Ultra was perched near the top of the large tower looking out over the rather large citadel. It was quiet a view up here, the Sangheili overseers, Unggoy workers, and Huragok staff leaving the dark blue horned ultra alone as he swayed a bit in the breeze up here and held onto the ledge. Would probably just fall and glide down to the surface in time. But for now he enjoyed the sun and the view from up here. Not often you had a view like this and no orders besides stay and relax.

The eight Yanme'e currently flying about were mostly staying at a high enough height to not get in anyones way and would occasionally land to take a break or grab a bite to eat from the stalls, but otherwise were enjoying this new shiny nest they found themselves in.


(May bring in Nek if needed, but these three will do for now :> )

[Grim]

Zex Il 'Radamee - Sangheili Ultra

The hustle and bustle of the market place grew dimmer and more faint, along with other things, as the booze worked its magic on Zex's system. "Forgive me..." He whispered so faintly to himself, drowned out by the marketplace noise that no other soul could've heard it. A prayer to the gods, begging for forgiveness, and a request his clan and ancestors, pleading for forgiveness.

The big, brutish Sangheili, clad in his white armor as he was, walked through the marketplace with surprising grace from a drunkard. Long ago he'd learned to mask him swaying and stumbling, taking long, big, deliberate and well calculated steps. It gave the illusion that he was just enjoying the day, enjoying his time, or perhaps just arrogantly strutting around, showing off his rank and sheer size. The latter illusion was further enforced by his scowl, which both reflected his mood and masked a tired, intoxicated look on his face.

The little whelp, Voro, had gotten to him. He didn't show it at the time. In fact, his anger at Voro's taunts about his clan and insubordination could've been interpreted by all present as anger over the fact Voro had blown their cover by taking the opportunity to taunt their Commander. Survival of the fittest, Zex, supposed. If you're not fit to survive, you don't. In this case, Voro had made several jabs at the Commander behind his back but the younger, small, weaker and lower ranking Sangheili's courage had always vanished whenever the Ultra walked into the fray. Except that one time where silence was key and Voro had blown their cover.

Zex was barely able to salvage the situation and Voro's incompetence had cost them the life of the other novice in his creche. Though Voro fought well, Zex had had it up to here with him. Rather than congratulate the Minor on a job well done, Zex immediately ordered him to carve the mark of insubordination into himself and only allowed him to commit suicide after a week's time. Well, he gave the Minor the order after Voro had woken up from the backhand Zex had given him. Voro died without honor and justice was sated. But his remarks had pushed Zex over the edge. Voro had 'won' in a sense.

Thus this led to the here and now, where Zex offered an apology to his clan for letting them be disgraced like that, and both to his clan and gods for getting so drunk.

He was beginning to sober up slightly, but not before wondering into the Jiralhanae habitat, either by drunken accident or by his purposeful design. He probably stuck out like a sore thumb. He blinked and squinted to make his blurry vision go into focus, his attention focused on the Jiralhanae Chieftain in the distance and the growing excitement in the atmosphere around him. Perhaps a fight was about to break out....

[BetaWülf]

Jiralhanae Chieftain Garatus the Deathless, Restorer of Tribes, Slayer of Shadowed Imps, The Butcher, Burner of Demons.
Blood Ties

Garatus reconsidered his actions, initially he had simply intended to leave the habitat, to enter the Citadel and commune with the fellow Commanders. But he would be a poor Chieftain, and a worse Father, if he did not initiate his own Son into the Pack as a Warrior of the Covenant. Garatus hefted his hammer, holding it low and level. His back was to the assembled Pack, a deep rumbling in his throat.

"The Son..." Garatus said.

"The Father..." Fenarious replied.

"Warriors..." Garatus said, turning to face the Pack, more importantly his Son, "For they are the future, the protectors of the Faith, Guardians of the Kinsmen unable to join us, be it from age too little or too great, or ineptitude that prevents them from service. We are the sacred protectors of our people, and with our vows to the Gods we are one with our brethren in purpose and cause, and let none stand before us lest they seek a righteously given death!" Garatus said, at first speaking softly, but eventually roaring near the end of the speech.

"On this day, I declare Fenarious the second, my Son, my heir, a member of this Pack! May the Gods bless him, and may the Moons align in his favor!" Garatus roared fiercely, zealously, proudly. The whole mantra had been passed down for centuries in his family, altered somewhat to appease the Covenant.

"With your blessing, and the blessing of the Gods, I vow to serve you until my time as Chieftain comes, and to serve the Covenant for all my days" Fenarious said, crouched in a bow with his knuckles pressed firmly into the floor.

"Rise my Son, rise as a Warrior of the Covenant and seal this pact in blood" Garatus said, slitting his palm as his Son did the same, the two clasping hands firmly. After a long moment, they released one another's hands.

Garatus paused for a moment, realizing someone had entered the room, they appeared to have been there for a short while. Garatus wondered how long the Sangheili had been standing there. Despite his personal issues with Sangheili stemming from his mate's death, the joyous occasion warranted a kinder mood.

"Greetings Ultra, what brings you to our humble habitat on such an auspicious occasion?" Garatus said, allowing himself a respectful nod to the Sangheili our of courtesy.

[Kart]

Jiralhanae Major Serretos
Munchin' on a Luncheon

As much as he'd rather be in his quarters right now, with a book in his hands, he had decided to attend the welcoming of the Chieftain's son. Plus, there was much to learn about his heritage and culture in ceremonies such as these, ceremonies that he had never participated in, since he grew up as an urchin of High Charity rather than the son of a chieftain. After all, if there was one thing he had learned from all the books of Sangheili philosophy that he had read, it was that knowledge can come from all sorts of strange places.

He watched the ritual of blood tying bemusedly, as he took surgical bites out of a haunch of Thorn Beast, washing it down with the bland but plentiful ale that lubricated Jiralhanae social functions. Garatus was a fine orator, he reflected, watching as his Chieftain commanded the room with his voice and presence, shouting out his family mantra as his son swore fealty to the Covenant. It wasn't as solemn or refined as most Covenant religious ceremonies were, but that not necessarily a bad thing. It was more honest, straightforward, poetic but simple. It was also a lot more entertaining to watch.

His attention was so focused that he didn't notice the Sangheili Ultra enter until the Chieftain turned and addressed him. A Sangheili? Here, at a Jiralhanae ceremony? Inwardly, Serretos hoped that either the ceremony had ended, or that the Ultra had urgent business, because he could not imagine that Garatus would take kindly to being interrupted for nothing.

He set down his ale and stood, silently moving to his Chieftain's side in a silent gesture of support. After all, he was still a Jiralhanae at a Jiralhanae ceremony, and a Sangheili, no matter how welcome, was still an outsider.

[Faclan]

Eugenius - Jiralhanae advisor.
Ekdo's Rest, Jiralhanae habitat.
Good times!

Sidleing up beside Garatus as he was finally face to face with Fenarious Eugine watched the interactions carefully. Ready to intervene if the boy leapt at dead father. A fight would be fine, but not here, it would need to be taken the proper location to be observed by those needed to ensure that a victory either way would be legitimate. And so that no cheating would happen. But thankfully there wasn't a need for any of that as both of them seemed happy to see each other.

Nodding in approval as the Chieftains blessings bestowed the Elder thumped the butt of his staff into the ground as Fenarious kneeled to received it proper and make his pledge. Eugine dipping his staff to rest the top of it against the boys head. The Covenant symbol at the top with the tiny puff totem of their Goddess hanging off it resting against his head. "And with the Chieftians blessing also go the blessings of the Spirits of the Earth and our ancestors, the Sheppard corraling all of them in her light to observe us at times such as these. As long as you hold true to your oath, they will look upon you favorably now and when you joint he Earth and flock afterwards."

And with that he removed his staff and held it to his side as Fenarious rose and the blood pact was sealed. Eugine just smiling at all of this as now Fenarious had been officially sworn in the Jiralhanae way good and proper. Eugine extending his good had to clasp the boy on the shoulder as Garatus looked away from a moment as the Elder smiled. "Good to see you join us Fenarious, I know you will do us proud Boy and likely forge a legacy to match or even exceed your Fathers!"

Letting his arm return to his side he looked over at the Sangheili, but the distance and his eyes have him no indication of the Sangheili's currently pickled perception.

(PRAISE SHEEP!)

[Huka]

Stalker Cicerus
Ekdo's Rest, Jiralhanae Habitat
Silent of Step and Mindful of Eyes

Cicerus was there with his much younger cousin while it was his sworn duty and obligation to always watch over him. His Shadowsteppers were allowed to act as they wish outside of combat, but they were still nearby, somewhere in the habitat with a critical eye for anything harmful to their Chieftain and his pack. Even potential rivals. The short elder; dressed always formally in his stone-gray stealth armor but this time, his helmet was resting under his arm. Watching the molding of son into his father's pack with his tired maroon eyes - bagged from age and constant vigilance - that shone with soulful happiness of watching this sanctioned moment.

"May your namesake's soul keep you as strong as stone." He obliges by Garatus' shoulder with a rare genuine look of peace on his face after the ceremonial speech of old Eugenius. His eyes seem to glaze over for a brief tick before it was interrupted by the smell of an unfamiliar Sangheili.

Breaking his peace with a fixed look of frustration, Cicerus looked upon the visiting Ultra with a undescribable expression. Eager to know what a Sangheili was doing here of all place, it was rare to have them step into the habitat. Even with Til's mindful training of mix-species units.

Training Instructor Jadap
Ekdo's Rest, Training Arena Tibur's Crucible
Training muddy crabs to be war crabs

"Alright, you nameless, faceless peons!" The stern, tough-as-Jiralhanae, one-armed instructor shouts out in his amplified methane respirator. His squeaky voice edged with war-sharpened steel and barely contained aggression, his squat walk moved a little bow-legged from endless marches and bullet runs and beady yellow eyes staring from at the ranks of Unggoy. All dressed in colorless harness and tanks full enough for their exercise. Jadap himself was dressed in his lilac-white Ultra harness, but it was trimmed with elegant golden trim. Marked by Til as a sanctioned position to be a caretaker for this crucible in honor of past missions and his recent maiming.

"I am Jadap and today, I am training you sorry hatchlings to become the legion's next..." He started to say before someone in the crowd replied rudely, 'Baggage?"


Jadap halted immediately, fingers flexing as if wanting to reach for the plasma pistol on his magnet-locked belt. Those odd cross-shaped pupils scanning at each nervous faces. Many were of the common chitinous breed, there was a rank of his kind, then there was others. All made and bred for war one way or another nowadays.

"Next finest batch of warriors. Most of you anyway." The Ultra said, tone as cold as Balaho. "The betters might even join the Sneaks at the core!" There was a shift of uncertainty on that. Jadap sneered to that and continued his stride towards the end of his charges. All five hundred of them in this massive arena - split into creches of a hundred. He will weed them down, choose their betters and separate them more and more until they were units...then he will bring them together again into a big cog of the legion.

"Training will be hard. Training will be quick. By the end of my training, you will be something. Nothing but food for the big bugs outside these walls and I don't train bugs. Are you bugs?" The instructor growled, staring into the last little runt's eyes. His own unnerving and almost glowing with intensity. "N-No..."

"What?" Jadap questioned. "No." "Again!" "No!" The little minor's cry came out as a youthful squeak. That will change in time. Instead, the grizzled officer gave him a pat on his head and walked back. "Are any of you bugs!?" He hollers out and they all screamed out the same with a hammer of their feet and fist, kicking the dirt against the sunlight.

The Ultra smiled under his mask and nodded in approval to it...until someone - probably the same idiot - lifted a hand somewhere in the middle ranks and said, "T-technically Masters we be bugs."

Jadap promptly clapped his big hand over his face. He had a lot of work to do...

[Grim]

Zex Il Radamee - Sangheili Ultra
Ekdo's Rest - Jiralhanae habitat.


It would appear there would be no Jiralhanae bloodshed today. A fight would've been entertaining, but it was better that the Covenant warriors did not fight among themselves. Besides, it would've been a shame if the Covenant lost such a capable warrior as the Chieftain here. Zex couldn't put his finger on it, especially in his drunken state, but the Jiralhanae leader seemed to radiate a wisdom and humility so stereotypical of an elder. The Chieftain, though, would turn and face the Ultra off in the distance, but spoke loud enough for the Sangheili and those around to hear. If Zex had gone unnoticed by most until now, that had changed.

"Greetings Ultra, what brings you to our humble habitat on such an auspicious occasion?"

And then the Chieftain nodded. His polite gesture and tone radiated with sincerity and respect. Zex couldn't help but to be sobered up by it, at least to some degree. Flattered and sincerely feeling regretful that he may've disrespectfully interrupted something important, the Sangheili nodded back, the gesture and sincerity and respect radiating from himself perhaps surprising the Jiralhanae around him.

"What brings me here? The gods have seen fit to bless me with a sixth sense, one that always seems to guide me to where dire events are about to take place on the battlefield. Perhaps it worked a little too good in this case. My humble apologies, Chieftain, if I have interrupted something."

The smell of alien liquor on his breath no doubt failed to escape the Jiralhanae's keen sense of smell. Some of them may've even snickered at him in hushed tones. But the situation was causing him to sober up and his social ineptitude, him stumbling into the Jiralhanae habitat, was slowly beginning to dawn on him.

[BasedGoody]

Kig-Yar Sniper Web
The Squad

"Tid." Web whispered, "Tid. Tid. Tiiiiid..."

"You wanna chill?" Tid shot back, in an equally quiet voice.

"What do you see?" Web asked.

"Uh... I see a Sangheili. Ultra?"

"No way."

"Dead-ass serious."

"What's he doing?"

"He looks drunk."

"No fucking way.

"Dead-fucking-ass serious."

"How drunk?"

"...Remember you last night?"

"Legit?"

"Yeah."

The Sniper and Spotter had heard of the Jiralhanae chieftain meeting his son, and both wanted to see it for themselves. The event itself had been less than interesting, especially from the small pillar they resided on. Being natural climbers, they figured a high location would help them see. Luckily things got a little more exciting when the inebriated Sangheili had entered.

"He's trying to hide it I think." Tid said after a moment.

"Not working very well." Web mused.

[Kart]

Jiralhanae Major Serretos
Hunkered with a drunkard

A Sangheili at a Jirahanae ceremony like this was as out of place as Serretos would be at a War College graduation. He felt a twinge of sympathetic embarrassment for the newcomer. Inwardly, he hoped that there was some crisis or whatever that would necessitate the Ultra coming here...just to provide justification for the intrusion.

"What brings me here?"

The Sangheili's words were not slurred, and he stood straight and balanced, but something about him seemed off. Serretos' nostrils flared as he picked up the scent of alcohol, but it wasn't the Doisac ale that the Jiralhanae were drinking. He sniffed again, and it seemed to be coming from...the Sangheili? The truth slowly dawned on Serretos.

Is he...drunk?

"The gods have seen fit to bless me with a sixth sense--" Oh gods, he is drunk. "--one that always seems to guide me to where dire events are about to take place on the battlefield."

Serretos cringed at the tableau. How could an Sangheili, let alone an Ultra wander drunkenly into a Jiralhanae gathering? The faux pas amongst the Jiralhanae would be unbearable on its own, but should word of an incident like this make it into Sangheili social circles, the consequences for the hapless Ultra would be far worse.

"Perhaps it worked a little too good in this case. My humble apologies, Chieftain, if I have interrupted something."

At least the Sangheili still had his courtesy about him, but this was too much! To address the Chieftain and start rambling about sixth senses..! And that was even not the worst part. The Sangheili had said that his "sense" guided him to dire events on the battlefield, and that it had led him to Fenarious' welcoming? To walk in was one thing, but to walk in and start spouting ill omens...against his better judgement, he had to take action. He could not stand here and let an Ultra embarrass himself in this way.

Forerunners, I came here to reinforce my Jirahanae social standing, not to try and repair a Sangheili's.

"Chieftain!" Serretos addressed Garatus, plastering a false, nervous smile on his face. "Perhaps our guest has gotten lost. If you like, I will help guide him to wherever he is going, and let the welcoming continue in peace."

[BetaWülf]

Jiralhanae Chieftain Garatus the Deathless.
That's New....

Garatus kept up his happy appearance(since he was legitimately happy for once) even as he noticed the smell of alcohol on the Sangheili's breath, it was... unusual to say the least. Jiralhanae drank often and drank much, but it wasn't anything they couldn't handle. Sangheili on the other hand... Garatus hadn't heard of them drinking before, let alone getting hungover, if this Ultra was even to that point yet.

"It is no intrusion, I have said my words, and he has made his vows" Garatus said matter of factly, turning to Serretos when he approached. Garatus grunted a greeting to him, and listened to his words. The Chief stared down at Serretos, a slightly crinkling in his brow as he noticed the Major's false smile.

"If he so desires, you may show him the way, I would be a poor host if I did not over my hospitality though" Garatus said to Serretos, then turning to look at the Ultra.

"If you would like, there is food and drink enough for you to join us, or, alternatively Major Serretos could show you to where ever you desire around the base" Garatus said politely.

[BasedGoody]

Kig-Yar Sniper Web
Fight, or nah?

"Is the Chieftain beating the shit out of that Ultra?" Web whispered, yet no answer was heard, "Tid. Tid. Is the-"

"No. It looks like they are just talking." Tid responded.

"What? Just talking? Why?" Web said, somewhat startled.

"What do you mean, 'why?'"

"Ionno, thought Garatus would smash him with a hammer or something." Web leaned back, disappointed.

"Oh, another one is stepping up."

"Another what?"

"Another Jiralhanae."

"Is that one going to beat the shit out of the Ultra?"

"I don't think so. They all seem kind of content."

"Wow, that's not interesting."

"Calm down, there might still be a fight."

"Doubt it."

"Your pessimism doesn't help."

"I need something to drink."

"Like, quenching thirst or getting slammed?"

"What do you think?"

"Yeah, I could go for a drink too."

[Faclan]

Eugenius - Jiralhanae advisor.
Ekdo's Rest, Jiralhanae habitat.
What a lightweight...and schemes

Although he figured it out a bit later than his fellows; because he couldn't see nor smell the Sangheili as well and because he was focused on his journal where he was recording the successful swearing in ceremony. But when he was finally done with his entry and had slipped the journal back into his bandolier back he finally noticed their Sangheili guest properly. Sure seemed tipsy judging by the fact that he was here in the Jiralhanae section and looked to be swaying a bit. But the smell coming from wasn't that strong compared to what Euigne was used to. What a lightweight!

It seemed like the rest wanted the Sangheili to leave, understandable because this was one of the few places that they had that was theirs and mostly free of the lizards influence...But it was just one, and he seemed to be decently gone from his faculties....why not have some fun? A large grin played itself across the Elders muzzle as he thought of that. And setting his bad hand on Garatus's shoulder plates and stood up straighter so he could lean over it and be near his Nephews ear as he whispered his plan.

"This is a rare opportunity Nephew, why not invite the Sangheili to celebrate with us? See if he is willing to loosen up and enjoy himself and not be such a stuck up lizard for just a day?"


Cad - Ruuhtian Major
Edko's Rest, Market District.
Havin a nice slow day.

Finishing off the fine fish Cad sat there happily before getting up and moving over to a trash bin to toss the stick in there...and then stooping down to pick up some of the trash that the other Covenant members had left on the floor. How did they expect to have a clean soul and ascend if they left their shared space dirty?! Rubbing his still healing formally shattered leg once that was cleaned up he hummed a bit and decided that now would be a good time to see how his good friend Garatus was doing. He had heard their last mission when he was still bed bound had been trying but wanted to see how he was doing with his own eyes.

So the Major began his slow walk toward the Jiralhanae section, doing his best to keep out of the way of the quicker walkers going both ways.

[Deleted]

Sangheili Ultra Vinza'za 'Wodamai
Ekdo's Rest; en route to the Jiralhanae habitat
On Patrol
(sorry its not the best post but I wanted to get into things again :3)

Eight Sangheili marched in a perfect column, Vinza'za abreast of them. They were all fully armed and dressed in shining combat harnesses, not to mention grizzled veterans of the Campaigns again the humans. Vinza'za had been given the unfortunate pleasure of guard duty. Given his track record, he was a perfect candidate. The Ultra knew things could get ugly in domestic covenant disputes however, and he knew all too well what that meant. It didn't help a fully armed lance would be marching into the jiralhanae habitat either, but orders are orders.

After reaching the habitat,Vigilance Lance slowed their pace and fanned out although they kept their weapons lowered. Naturally Vinza'za assessed the situation and realized no hostilities were occuring before focusing on his target. The Lance started to garner the Jiralhanae's attention. Vinza'za raised his off-hand to show he meant no wrong towards his larger, harier brothers-in-arms. 'Il 'Wodamai quickly prepared his thoughts before he articulated his objective. 'Il 'Wodamai fixed his eyes on the drunken Ultra, still clad in his armor.

Vinza'za demanded, "Zex 'Il 'Radamee, you are to come with us by the orders of Field Master Nertetzu Et'ta 'Odumai himself. Public intoxication in battle dress is not permitted for a Sangheili. If you will not comply, we will have to make you go by force."

Vinza'za was for and made his point clear. He knew it was evident to the Jiralhanae this matter didn't concern them but wondered how they would react. 'Il 'Wodamai knew the Chieftain to be wise from what he had gathered, but he also knew the Jiralhanae could be hot-headed-especially the whelps.

[BasedGoody]

Kig-Yar Sniper Web
Oh shit

"So it looks like another Jiralhanae is stepping up..." Tid murmured.

"Really? Which one?" Web questioned.

"You think I know? They all look the same."

"Was that racism that I just heard, Tid?" Web cocked his head as he said it.

"What? No. I'm serious. It's not racist if it's true."

"I'm not sure that's how it works-"

"Yo shut up for a minute."

"Fuck did you just say to-"

"No for real, a bunch of Sangheili just showed up. They're all armed."

"Is a firefight about to break out?"

"Shhh, they're speaking."

"Zex 'Il 'Radamee, you are to come with us by the orders of Field Master Nertetzu Et'ta 'Odumai himself. Public intoxication in battle dress is not permitted for a Sangheili. If you will not comply, we will have to make you go by force." Spoke the Sangheili.

"Oh shit" Tid and Web both mumbled in unison.

"Now it's starting to get good." Web whispered.

[Huka]

Shadowstep Leader Cicerus
Jiralhanae Habitat

Preferring to watch and get some entertainment of this new experience, Cicerus expressed only a toothy grin at the thought of a drunk Sangheili in their presence but he was as much as a good representative as his Chief wanted him to do. However, perhaps what drew the expression from the aged killer was the young Major - Serretos he believe his name was - attempt to save the drunkard from perhaps a violent end by Jiralhanae 'hospitality' after his omen of a battle within the habitat.

Garatus didn't seem to see the words as that, he continued to his rightful benevolence. Good, Cicerus was becoming more and more proud of being under the wise young leader. However, that air broke when he smelled the familiar scent of more Sangheili before they stepped into the habitat. Real, sober Sangheili with the fragrance of polished metal and underbrush at their boots. Patrols.

When Cicerus leaned over to warn his Chieftain of the new essence, the Stalker brushed his dreadlocks away with the soft tap-tap of their beads and muffled brush of feathers. "Did we have a runner for a event today?" He asked in joking matter, cackling in his dark tone of ways.

And indeed it was a patrol, a full escort with a white-armored Ultra too. Their demand was the drunk Sangheili for breaking protocol, that explains why the public ever see few truly-drunk Sangheili. They had so many rules to keep them in line and dutiful in public. It must be a sad life to live indeed.

Cicerus was about to speak to the Ultra when his nose curled at another scent, enough to make him blink and sniff again. Looking away from the court's fond entertainment, the Stalker sniffed deep and full into his wet ursine nostrils with a little lap to his nostrils. It was new, yet not. Laced deep into their musks and tribal incenses...it seemed like Unggoy but wrapped with the alien flora of this world.

What?

Snorting out, Cicerus shook his head violently to get it out of his nose. "Probably the builders." He said, rubbing his snout with his sleeve to get it out.

[Deleted]

La'Ghora 'Te Viskaree - Sangjelly Major
Edko's Rest - Citadel of Redeeming Vigilance - The Market Place
Dum dum dee, Kiggy-Kiggy see.

Tags; Faclan, whoever wants to say ohai to a jelly in the market.

Whilst drama may commence in one place, in another it was rather less tense...

Rarely could one of his kindred so freely mix with so many different peoples in such a varied environment, even if the surroundings were almost entirely artificial. The bustling marketplace paid testament to the sheer diversity of the Covenant, even for the standards of a humble Legion and it's supporting bases, whether entirely military or partly civilian. The Citadel itself simply astounded the backwater male, so used to mountains and utilitarian structures of many years ago, and the interior of some prison back... then. Memories and concerns back then still plagued his mind, but felt so much more... subdued after his meeting with the one and only Kael Gel.

La'Ghora is dressed in his people's attire of wrappings, shawl and long kilt, civilian's re-breather tube subtly snaked from the smaller chamber upon his back, under the shawl and under his mandibles, hissing occasionally upon taking breath. He has found himself nosing around in the local Marketplace which seemed to serve both as a place to trade and to meet between the various habitats in the Citadel - one of a few 'neutral' zones that did plenty to discourage inter-species conflict within the highly mixed legion. This amounted to what was called 'down time' for his mixed lance, with his comrades essentially wandering off in pairs, mostly just those of Viskar blood, out of pack-like habit and partly from the feeling of safety in numbers being so far from home, making some effort to remain inconspicuous amongst the crowds, the lot of them being outsiders, even the 'typical' Sangheili mountain-men of better clans.

While his file-leaders also did their thing, La'Ghora did what he could to avoid bumping into the bustling peoples here, occasionally receiving wary glances from a small minority, but otherwise he actually felt relieved at being ignored for the most part. Stalls lined up in almost haphazard bunches and lines, almost bursting with the often enthusiastic traders trying to attract as much attention as possible to their wares, some mundane while others were suspect. Sometimes the backwater Sangheili stopped to browse, puffing through his civilian-grade re-breather, pale eyes gazing quite seriously over whatever happened to catch his eyes; trinkets were often the subject of interest, despite the common notion that Sangheili simply did not 'indulge in distracting little shinies'.

At one point a rather charismatic Ruuhtian Kig-Yar had him engaged in a chatty conversation about wood-carvings, with the taller, paler male wondering if this was genuine interest or merely some marketing ploy to sell such things. At the end of it at least La'Ghora could bargain for a little wooden tree in a wooden pot alittle nd a glass-stone in the middle. To others, it was a little thing to be laid to one side and forgotten. To him, it seemed an innocent kind of respect to his decayed and partly obliterated culture, a poignant glance to a homeworld too scarred by renegades and too far away to realistically see unless his self-regarding superiors let it happen, if he died (and they bothered to pick the pieces up) or he earned it... somehow. That wooden trinket meant more to him than it did some daft passer-by...

...which he felt quite engrossed in, even as he passed through the Market, rounding one corner and awkwardly side-stepping another Ruuhtian, this one with a light limp, catching himself for but a heartbeat, and accidentally fumbling with and dropping the little wooden tree to the ground. He honestly stared as it bounced along the ground, people's feet never quite kicking it around as he turned towards the Kig-Yar in question; Sangheili pride and arrogance tempting the male to lash out, but not being one of pride and arrogance as one of such cold and damp origin, he settled for an awkward and apologetic glance, before wordlessly warbling to the smaller male in question politely, and then set off to find his prized, not-so-cheap trinket in the light bustle, his stout bulk at least helping to clear just a little leeway towards his trinket.

Shouting at a healing warrior for -potentially- being in the way while being engrossed himself was not a worthy reason to attract attention from all, especially those so... badly disposed towards his deeply, biologically regressed kind. Or so that self-conscious mind assumed.

(PRAISE BE! PRAISE BE TO THAR SHEEPZ)

[Faclan]

(Why are we praising Sheep? o.o, BUT PRAISE SHEEP!)

Cad - Ruuthian Major
Markets
Sorry I'll move.

Looking over a little Yanme'e...thing he had picked up from an entire bowl of the things for a few Gekz Cad started to wonder what it actually was as he walked toward the markets exit. It wasn't metal, at least none he had ever seen before. But it wasn't slick or sticky, just smooth but easy to grip. It almost felt like some kind of rough glass. But the Unggoy selling them had told him many a time that it was tough stuff. He could try it out later - it was intricate whatever it was. Perhaps it was some kind of model of a Hive? That would make a lot of se...

It was then that the Sangheili rounded the corner and nearly bowled Cad over. Thankfully the Sangheili was able to move enough to the side as Cad just staggered into the wall a bit as he tried to move out of the way. He saw something fall out of the Sangheili's hand as he moved but it was soon gone whatever it was. Leaning against it a bit he was glad he moved right so the pressure was on his still good leg and not his still recovering one. The Sangheili looked annoyed but then just muttered some...thing before tromping off to get his dropped item. Bowing his head to the Sangheili he quickly responded with. "Apologies for getting in the way Sir." But the Sangheili seemed to be much more interested in his little nic nack he dropped. Normal behavior there as Cad just dipped his beak again and started to slow walk away from the market some more

"Apologies again Sir."