The man's attention was slipping. New rulers were popping up again around the lands, and yet he hadn't been there to witness the claim. Even worse, one of those new prides seemed to be on a more mountainous terrain of the lands. Always intent on learning about these lands and their leaders, Roan set out in search of one of the newly established prides, finding a drop of envy enter his gut at the thought of someone other than himself living on the mountain as the peaks grew higher in the distance. The closer he got, though, the more Roan noticed the differences between these bluffs and the mountains he had once called home. Despite the chill in the higher altitude, they were not the snow capped peaks he had been born to. Perhaps it was not a total loss that he did not call these bluffs home yet.

Making his way up the winding path was unfamiliar, yet not difficult for his mountain-accustomed paws. He'd grown up on mountains, and continued to climb even when living in a jungle. Even if he didn't know these particular peaks, a mountain was a mountain to him. Finding the scent markers caused the rogue to stop before sending out a few chuffs in search of whoever the ruler might be. In missing the claim, Roan didn't know who to expect, nor did he know if there had even been a fight over the throne. All he could do now was wait for whoever the new ruler was.

@Faust

Table & Reference by Amanda | Lineart by WolvesWoodGlenAdopts | Background from unsplash

The sound of the strange male's call was nearly lost to the wind, but it did reach the Archangel.

He was resting in the shelter of a rocky overhang, eyes closed but mind st the ready. Not quite asleep but not far enough awake to briefly consider if the summons had been a dream. Many a wise beast had taken heed of dreams though, whether it led to fortune or ruin depended on the story.

So it was with this in mind that the nephilim rose and began his trek to the border, following the sound and now smell of what was no dream. This stranger was just as solid as he, dressed in ashen clay and muted red. The blood colored mane and darkned forelegs of the rogue reminded him faintly of the male he'd challenged for the territory. Some relation perhaps?

Coincidence or not, he spoke to the male as he would any other visitor upon his borders.

"Greetings, I am The Archangel Faust. Is there something you seek from me?"

@Roan

He was not left to sit alone for long before a pale, golden male approached to greet him. The crimson-eyed stranger spoke with little fanfare, simply inquiring Roan's purpose for the summons. "Greetings, sir," the Hodari started off with a polite dip of his head in his won greeting. Uncertain as to whether 'The Archangel Faust' was one long rank or title, or if it was the man's name, Roan decided it safest to avoid trying to refer to the man by any name just yet, opting for a respectful sir as a placeholder for now. At least this lion seemed to smell the same as the scent markers, so he must be some sort of leader, right?

Onto the reason the masked lion was here, though, Roan didn't wish to waste time. "I seek information about the pride that lives here, sir, if you have the time to spare. I missed whatever claim had taken place to grant you your throne." The Hodari dared to make the assumption that this lion that stood before was, in fact, the high ruler of these lands. With every new talk with the new leaders of Amaryllis, Roan was slowly starting to learn that some leaders used different terms for their ranks. It was no longer a simple 'king' or 'queen' land. Some decided on other terms, so maybe that's what 'The Archangel' was.

@Faust

Table & Reference by Amanda | Lineart by WolvesWoodGlenAdopts | Background from unsplash

"I see."

It was only fair to be curious about the temperament of new leadership in the lands, he couldn't fault the male for that. It was starting to get tiresome to come up with a unique speel each time though. Hm. Maybe he should create a standard speech for things like this.

These thoughts were there and gone within a few seconds, shoved aside so that Faust could get on with the rundown of how his particular reign handled things.

"I'll speak plainly then, mirn roloigra maura, as you seem to be seeking the facts." Subtly as he cared to, one of the nephilim's ears flicked to the side to see if he could pick up any other stragglers that he may have missed. As far as he could tell the male, who hadn't given his name, seemed to be acting alone.

"I won't attack allies or peaceful visitors within my lands, and they in turn must have an escort while within the Bluffs. If one decides to test their luck with causing discord or strife within the borders then I have no qualms with doling out the proper judgement." So far so good on that front, there had been many polite but curious faces. In a way, the Archangel was waiting for someone to test their luck. Word traveled fast, even from shredded mouths. "Education, regardless of age, is an important cornerstone. Everyone has a purpose here, especially the youth who need that knowledge the most."

@Roan

Thankfully, the mauve lion was not given much fuss over his request for information. The monarch appeared willing to oblige such inquiries, and it would seem that Roan was not wrong in his assumption that the 'Archangel' was the leader of the Bluffs. Faust spoke of his intended interactions with allies and visitors which, while not something the Hodari would disagree with, was not exactly the sort of information he desired to learn at the moment. The masked rogue wanted to know the inner workings of the pride and how a member could expect to be treated and what would be expected of them in return. Still, it was a fair assessment to expect of visitors and allies upon the male's borders.

Much to his own expectations, that wouldn't be the only thing offered in terms of information as the sovereign went on. Roan's brows rose subtly at this notion about education. With all the prides he had visited lately, education had never been something offered to him in his never ending search for information. "I can't argue with that," the mauve lion nodded with a light grin. "Everyone should have something to contribute to a pride." It was nice to know that the king would expect this of his members and now just leave it to their own initiatives to pursue.

Still, there was more to be wanted in terms of how this male might rule a pride, prompting Roan to ask a few questions again. "If I may ask, what is your stance on claiming of rogues, be it women or children?" A hot topic indeed, this was always something that could make or break the Hodari's desire to join a pride. How a man treated and viewed vulnerable rogues said a lot about his leadership and the atmosphere of the pride as a whole.

@Faust

Table & Reference by Amanda | Lineart by WolvesWoodGlenAdopts | Background from unsplash

The claiming of lives was a hot topic indeed, both in the ways of taking and repurposing them. One way was a one and done deal, the other went on and on. But they both had ardent supporters on both sides. He himself was...neutral, but also knew better than to keep anything more than a political prisoner truly captive. At least in the way he had seen some laid the lives of others.

Faust made note or how the question was phrased as well, 'be it women and children'. There was something there, but he couldn't quite grasp which way the rogue's personal compass pointed. Well, the Archangel was about to find out.

"I don't disallow it, but I also don't allow violence against pride members, which the claimed would be." He kept his tone even, there was no shame in this. Just facts. "Those who take in new pride members are expected to be their guides and make sure they find their stay comfortable, but I'm not going to allow a lioness to be taken to my borders kicking and screaming either. As for cubs, if they have no guardian then it's safer for them here than on their own."


@Roan

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