14667/The Brood: Savage Consultations

The Brood: Savage Consultations
Date of Scene:	12 April 2023
Location:	Giant Clearing - Forest
Synopsis:	Diana arrives in the Savage Land with a contingent of Amazons. She is met by a council of the local tribes. While the Fall People remain eager allies, there is hesistancy in the others to work with these outsiders. Queen Leanne's arrival presents Diana with both an ally and peer, and together, they gather significant support to help clear the Brood from the Aerian homeland. A young priestess sent by the Sun People remains a detractor, however, speaking of fiery wrath in the name of a local deity named 'Garokk.' Probably just crazy, right?! Everything ends with a big party, and the Amazons are soon invited to the land of fairy tale dinosaur knights.
Cast of Characters:	Cassie Sandsmark, Diana Prince

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Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
With the Justice League alerted to the growing Brood threat in the Savage Land, their first objective has been containment... at least until a method of erradication can be found. In this capacity, Princess Diana of Themyscira offered the aid of the Amazons, one of the closest things to proper 'army' at their disposal... and one of the few such forces that is robust enough to face the dangers of this jungle land.

But it isn't quite so easy as just 'send in the Amazons.' The Savage Land is populated by many intelligent races, some humanoid, some bestial, and all of them engaged in their own web of alliances and rivalries. An Amazon army marching to fight the Dino-Brood could just as easily come under attack by any one of these groups, assuming them just another invader. And so, wisely, they've enlisted the aid of a few local allies in bringing some of the tribal leaders to meet the Amazon representatives. While Lord Plunder couldn't attend, his influence has brought many of those he calls friends to the table. Likewise, good word from the X-Men has secured other emissaries from groups they dealt with.

Presently, the Invisible Jet sits in the center of the landing clearing, and the Amazons have assembled a small camp to receive their visitors. There's food, courtesy of the Fall People, who count as first among their allies, friends to both Ka-Zar and the X-Men. The others are expected to arrive soon...

"This place is wild, huh? A real life Jurassic freaking Park." Cassie is here in her usual sidekickerly capacity, though presently is mostly marveling at their surroundings.

Diana Prince has posed:
Only 10 Amazons are with Cassie and Diana on this day, thus it is far from an army... yet.

Captain Eophi is the first to react to what Cassie says, recently appointed the new Captain of the Amazons assigned to New York, Eophi is a well known name and face from the island. A brunette woman, with wild hair often unkempt, with its edges generally kept in small braids. She regards Cassie and smirks at her. "This is no park, my dear Cassie." Her eyes cast around their location.

Diana appears then, sitting down beside her sister, and sidekick, grinning at what she hears them saying. "Eophi has yet to see that film. She may not understand what you are truly symbolizing." Diana tells Cassie with a little pat to her shoulder before she too looks around at their current surroundings. She seems.. invigorated by it all, in what might be an odd turn of events. "I rather like it here... this 'Brood' situation aside. I could see myself coming here more often, once we have that all handled."

Eophi looks to the two women sitting across from her, she stares at them both. "Handled?" She asks, smirking to it. "Diana, my Princess, my dear friend. You speak so casually of this. But as you've explained it to me..." She looks to the south, and exhales softly. "It feels like something terrible is waiting for us. Something we may not be fully prepared for. Our training?" She looks back to Cassie and Diana then, and just gently shakes her head.

"We have a lot to learn from what it is we are to find out here, I am sure of that much... 'films' aside."

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
"Hold on, I'll find something. The signal here is actually better than on the island..." Shockingly it's true! And probably courtesy of SHIELD: they have a small listening post in the outer clearing, and given the situation... a satellite positioned permanently overhead to continue surveillance. Four bars! So Cassie goes hunting for a video, idly chatting back with Diana as she does (she's a good multi-tasker): "Yeah for sure. I mean they're both kinda like, real tropical paradises, right? Themyscira always feels like Spring Break to me. And this isn't far off, uh, murderous aliens aside."

The Fall People have already made introductions with the Amazons, of whom they seem in general quite impressed, given their own warrior nature as a society forced to live within this dangerous, dinosaur-filled land. Of course, they send both men and women alike, and so there is a certain marveling at the singular composition of the Amazon force. The men show off for them, the women ask them bold and sometimes difficult questions. Mostly, though, it is a harmless exchange.

It is as these two sides are getting to know each other that some of the others arrive. They come in small troops from the jungle, and while the first all are human, some bear curious symbols to mark their affiliations: some are tattoo'd while others wear the skulls or pelts of particular animals to mark their affiliation. They greet Chomak - who the Fall People have sent to speak for them - with familiarity though not open brotherhood. "More outsiders," says one who wears a sabertooth tiger skull on his head. "Always more outsiders!"

"Hey, we're only here to help," Cassie pipes up, from the midst of explaining who Steven Spielberg is to Eophi. "And by the sound of it, you need it."

"We will fight for ourselves!" shouts another. This one, a white-haired woman, bears an unusual headdress, with a symbol of the blazing sun at its center. "Outsiders caused this problem. But we are not helpless. We will call upon the magics of the land, and the corruption shall be burned away!

Diana Prince has posed:
When Cassie whips out her cellular phone device, Eophi takes her cup of soup and rises up to her sandaled feet. She steps around the campfire and over to where Cassie is to sit on the other side of her from Diana. She does that head-tilty thing as she looks over Cassie's shoulder at the screen... as not all Amazons are against technology, Eophi being one who is ... lets say... tech-curious.

Diana watches the two of them, but does indeed look up to those who wear the fancy haeaddresses. She offers them both a grin, her drink cup raised to her lips for a sip before she lowers it down to rest it in the palm of her other hand. She looks to those speaking and smiles faintly to them.

"Outsiders did this to your land. Thus, we are here to fix it... as best as we are able to. We would hope for the same for our own land, should similar situations be reversed." The Princess notes, her gaze going aside to some of her sisters who are mingling with the locals... some getting to know each other, some laughing at some of the shared hijinx.

With a warm wind blowing through her dark hair, Diana looks back to their greeters. "We wish to preserve the best things in life..." She says in a warm tone of her kind voice. "Your people certainly fall within that framing too. When I heard of the situation, I knew we had to come here as quickly as possible... All of us are eager to be here."

She looks over to Cassie who has her face in her phone, with Eophi practically the same. Cassie gets a elbow nudge, which goes through her to nudge the Captain too.

Eophi looks up from the fake dinosaurs to the tribesmen and women. "Of course. This is a great learning experience for .. not just me, but all of us. I am eager to learn." She says before lifting her soup up for a sip, then pushing aside one of her small braids from the side of her face.

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
Diana speaks eloquently. It is what she does, after all: she is a hero of the heart, as much as she is of the sword.

And while cat-skulled man does continue his posturing, he is eager to seize upon the implication of some... duty in their 'guilt.' "This is true and fair. When a young one errs, they must correct their mistake. And when a man kills another recklessly, he is made to serve the fallen's family in restitution, until the blood-debt is paid..." It's not EXACTLY what she was going for, maybe. But it's in the neighborhood. And, going along with Mr. Cat-Skull, some of the other tribal leaders murmur agreement.

Cassie, meanwhile, gets nudged out of her phone, and looks up in time to give an enthusiastic, "Yeah, exactly!" before she's entirely processed what the guy just said. "Wait..."

However, there is still a detractor in the crowd. The one with the mark of the sun. "This is foolishness!" she cries. "The outsiders have defiled us! They have claimed divinity and blasphemed our ancient spirits." Evidently, the tale of Deathbird's duplicity has had time enough to spread. "There is no redemption to be found in dealing with them further. If you look for salvation from the great blight, then trust the light of Garokk, whose eyes shine with the blazing glory of the sun!"

Cassie just kind of blinks a few times at this whole tirade, and looks at Diana. "We're gonna need, like, a local almanac explaining all this stuff, 'cuz I checked, and its not on wikipedia."

Fortunately, as this zealous woman sours the burgeoning tone of diplomatic accord, the Amazons get 'back up' in the form of more arriving allies. Unlike those who come trekking out of the jungle, these arrive in the sky atop a giant bat-like mounts, accompanied by a small flock of bird-men.

Cassie just stares. "See?! I can't keep up with this crazy stuff!"

Those on the mounts are dressed as fantasic medieval knights, and led by their warrior-Queen, who strikes an instant counterpoint to Diana in her visage. As the mounts set down, the Aerian scouts land in front of them, flapping their wings in what might be seen as mildly aggressive displays to get a few of the human tribesmen to back up.

"Her Majesty, Queen Leanne of Lemuria!" heralds one of the knights, helpfully. "And emisarries of the Aerie Shalan."

Diana Prince has posed:
Most eyes end up on the unknown speaker who seems less than enthusiastic about the outsiders. Diana is processing a response to her when the sounds of wings herald the arrival of the nights, and the Lemurian Queen. This... of course... draws the full attention of the Amazon women. Diana stands up, setting aside her drink, as does Eophi with her soup. Soon they are greeting the newly arrived, with Diana stepping toward the Queen, and her Knights, with Captain Eophi at her side, and presumably Cassie on the other. Diana is wearing her Eagle armor, with a dark blue cloth wrap thrown around her shoulders to give an air of a bit more casual flare to it. She looks to the newly arrived, each face getting a second of stare at-least before she looks to the Queen. She offers a light bow toward her. "Your Highness." Diana says. "I am Princess Diana of Themyscira, daughter of Queen Hippolyta, ruler of the Amazons. This is my sister, and protege Cassandra Sandsmark, and my Captain at Arms, Eophi." Di motions between them both before she offers her right hand to the Queen.

"We come on behalf of the X-Men, Jean Grey, and hope to offer our aid in dealing with the recent plights that have befallen your lands..." She looks to the unknown People then. "Our initial greeters have been filling us in on much of this, though we still have so much more to learn... I suspect. It is an honor to meet you."

Captain Eophi also offers the Queen a small bow of respect, as she looks on, her eyes scanning the Knights who flew in as well.

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
Yep, serious time! Cassie tucks away the phone and stands up straight, falling into step just behind and to the side of boss-lady. And then she wisely keeps her mouth shut!

"I am Queen Leanne, daughter of Queen Leah, sovereign by blood and right of Lemuria and greater Zarhan and heiress to the lost Empire of Atlantis." The last, of course, may draw a certain reaction in Diana, who has dealings with, well, the not-at-all lost Atlanteans of the current day. The Savage Land proves a strange time capsule of some far-gone era.

Still, the two women meet as peers, and Leane reaches out to clasp Diana's offered arm, by the further forearm rather than the hand. "We are honored by your visit, Princess. Our mutual friends sent word of your coming, and we receive you gladly. You will forgive me if I am curt with the ceremonial details, but I see no cause for any hesitation and time is urgent, the situation dire. Lemuria grants you open passage through its territories, and if needs be, I give you leave to encamp your troops beside our walls."

Cassie leans in. "I like her!"

The prompt, matter-of-fact acceptance causes a murmuring among the other gathered tribesmen. Of course, it is a vote in favor of Diana's cause. Of course, as every political maneuvering goes, her support encourages a certain disquiet. The tribespeople clearly fear Lemurian might, and so an ally to them...

Amidst whatever murmurings, Chomak speaks up to help silence the opposition. "This is not the time for such bickering! The blight as not yet reached us, and we should be thankful for that! The winged-ones, the resplendant Queen, they will face it first. But we of the Fall People are not cowards who will hide behind them as they fight! We will shed blood now, so that the evil does not spread!"

"... ok I like him too," Cassie adds. "This place is growing on me."

Diana Prince has posed:
The Invisible Jet looms behind everyone during the meeting, very much visible right now as its internal systems are not currently bending light around its form. This leaves the cloud-hued, dagger-shaped ship to just rest there on the grassy hillside in a very regal display, amongst everyone gathering around it.

What Leanne says, how welcoming she is, garners a expression of pleasant surprise upon Diana. The Princess offers the Queen another light bow of respect for saying it. "You are gracious, Your Highness. We greatly appreciate it." while the murmurings from the others who are unsure of this alliance do draw Di's attention for a brief moment. She is quick to cast her eyes around to everyone though.

"My people are sworn protectors of this entire world, though we have only just recently truly been expanding our horizons to ... well... encapsulate it as a whole. It is a very long story itself, but I hope to tell it to anyone here who is willing to hear it."

"In the mean time, we have more who are coming to help... including Jean Grey's X-Men. I would wish to know where the known brunt of this blight is located, so that we can focus our efforts there, and protect those most vulnerable to it. This is where our primary focus will reside, as we work together to burn this blight out before it can spread any further."

A glance is given to Cassie, and then to Eophi before Diana regards the Queen again. "Any help that your people can offer along these lines, as well, will go a long way in ensuring our rapid success with all of this."

The Princess gives another general cast of her eyes around. "We are new here, but... as I was telling my sister... something about this place calls to me, and I truly do wish to help it recover from this, as quickly as possible."

Cassie Sandsmark has posed:
"We will be happy to hear your tales, Princess. It would please me if, as you make preparations and bring your people here, I might host you and your close companions," and she makes a gesture as if to include the honor guard of Eophi and Cassie, "at my home. It has comforts befitting your station, and martial fields where your soldiers may drill and practice with my own."

"The Knights of X," her odd name for the X-Men, "are likewise welcome, of course. We have fought side by side, and they will be forever honored company." She pauses then, as Diana's speech shifts to some of the specifics, and she glances toward one of the avian humanoids behind her, who now steps forward to speak.

"An ocean still separates Lemuria - and everyone here," he casts a notable look around among the tribesmen, perhaps slightly chastizing, given their relative safety, "from the great blight. It began in the shadow of our Aerie home, and has now grown to encompass much of the surrounding jungle. The height of the Aerie has thus kept us safe: the transformed beasts often grow wings, yet often they are not actually sufficient to lift the weight of the creatures. But we cannot rely on this long, however, and will soon need evacuate. After that... I do not know how these creatures will take to the sea."

Leanne then speaks again. "We will offer anything and everything that may be required. Ships for your troops, supplies, additional weapons, and of course, our own soldiers. And I am sure the many tribes will also wish to prove their bravery." This is a cunning line on her part, of course, following up on the groundwork Chomak laid for her: after boasting that the Fall People will fight, it puts any tribe that refuses to do so in the position of cowardice. A clear mark of shame, among the local cultures.

And thus, reliably, there are grudging murmurs from the others how they will send who they are able. Smaller token efforts, perhaps, but better than nothing. Better than opposition. Though opposition remains:

The Sun-tribe woman again speaks. "You presume to speak for all of us, 'Majesty,'" she speaks the title with mockery, "but there are many not represented here. This is not Garokk's will, and you will learn the costs for defying him!" And then she smiles wickedly. "And I see that the Pterons are not here. Already, Phangor has abandonned you, despite all you did for him."

Having said this, the Sun-priestess soon makes her exit, rejecting the hospitality offered. The other tribes, regardless of their levels of committment, do not pass up on free food. More seriously, it makes clear the bonds of custom: to reject such hospitality would be a grave insult. And though the tribes may be fractuous, there is clearly a commonality between them. While they feast and drink and dance, they are nearly as one people.

Meanwhile, Diana and Leanne have ample opportunity to speak, while Cassie eagerly gets into the festive spirit, draggin Eophi along with her. Later, she'll be seen imbibing deeply of the local beverages, and dancing wildly into the night.