"That was the worst display of discipline I have seen in four centuries! You not only defied a direct order, an order from a top general, but you did so in front of a holy Slann Mage Priest!"
Scar Veteran Ataxor paced back and forth in front of Ruq-Gar and Ka'rah. Spittle hanging from his snarling jaw before he plunged on.
"You have disgraced yourselves, your cohort and our entire delegation. Furthermore-"
"Ataxor! A word please." Xi-Boq called out to the Scar Veteran. It gave a final snarl towards the two Saurus before following Xi-Boq as he left the barracks. He lead it down a corridor and into the chamber he had been given to stay in while the delegation was is Tlaxtlan. As soon as Ataxor had entered the room Xi-Boq turned to the Scar Veteran.
"You will not make it to the status of Old-Blood if you cannot see beyond surface details." He snapped.
"You're meaning, Lord Xi-Boq?"
"That Slann was not testing our soldier's resolve. They are so below the consideration of one such a being."
"Then who was being tested?"
"It was I! Lord Chuqa-xi was testing me and my resolve. The devil knows my objection to seeing our own kind spilling each other's blood. I was being tested, to see if I would give such an order. "
"You did well then my lord!" Ataxor rumbled, "It was just a shame that it was disgraced by-"
"As far as I am concerned, those two passed the test flawlessly." Xi-Boq growled, advancing on the Scar Veteran, "I just don't know if I passed…"
The Old-Blood turned to face the shrine to Tzcatli he had assembled in the chamber.
"Let those two go to enjoy the feast. I need to meditate." he rumbled. " Send Aktaka in." he added as the Scar Veteran bowed and backed out of the room. It saw a scrawny Skink scribe waiting by the door.
"Xi-Boq said-"
"Yes, I heard."
The Skink entered and closed the door.
Ataxor walked back to the barracks and looked at the two Saurus, who were still standing to attention.
"You can go." it said.
The feast wasn't an overly grandiose affair. But visiting dignitaries and their entourage were traditionally welcomed with a display of the host city's generosity and abundance. One of the smaller plaza's had been set aside to hose a number of long tables, several roasting fires and a performance area where a selection of songs, dances and music were performed. A few barrels of pulque and mezcal were also made available for the delegation.
When Ruq-Gar and Ka'rah rejoined their assigned Saurus squad, their Champion was just about to square off in wrestling match with one of the Saurus of their host's barracks. They both took deep swigs from the jar of harsh fire-water being passed around.
The two wrestlers stood in the performance area. They leaned in close, touching each others crests before taking up combat stances.
"I thought you were going to be executed or something." one of the squad said, turning to Ruq-Gar.
The wrestlers charged, grappling each other, then broke apart. They circled each other and then lunged again.
"Yeah, disobeying a direct order, from Xi-Boq no less!" chimed in another. He passed a huge lump of roasted meat to Ruq-Gar.
The saurus took it, holding it by a huge bone and tore off a chunk with his powerful jaw, "Nah, I saw his eye. I'd be in worse trouble if I'd pulled the trigger!" he said, spraying meat and spittle.
There was a roar of from those watching, as one of the wrestlers managed to fell their opponent, but they rolled away before they could be pinned.
"It was really strange in there." Ka'rah said. "My head was so fuzzy, I could feel 'myself' evaporating, if that makes any sense?"
"Yeah… Maybe" Ruq-Gar replied. "I'll tell you though, if that Slann, that Lord Chuqa-xi had ordered me to shoot you, Scar Veteran Ataxor wouldn't have bawled me out!"
Their Champion had now pinned the other Saurus to the ground and it was signalling submission. A drum beat started as the winner was declared and given a small feathered band by way of a prize. Another drum beat on top of the first and then a flute began playing as a few Skink musicians moved onto the performance area.
Ka'rah took a big sip of mezcal, "Makes you wonder what it'll be like when we start finding our own Slann.", she mused, thinking back to the sight of that Saurus killing its fellow in complete obedience to its master.
"I thank you Lord Chuqa-xi for finding time between your celestial contemplation for someone as humble as I" Starseer Tel'aqua said, kneeling painfully before the Slann.
"Under the circumstances, I thought it would be more productive to talk with you in person."
The Starseer's aids helped the Skink back up and onto a carved wooden bench. His was clearly still suffering from his injuries, but had insisted he be transported to negotiate with Tlaxtlan personally. He doubted the efficacy of Saurus diplomacy. After hearing the results of Xi-Boq's first discussions, his doubts were not shaken.
"I hope that we can move past the mistakes of my General. As you know, we have been wrecked upon your lands. I, as the most senior member of the expedition as as a member of the highest echelons of the celestial priesthood would like for formally request the assistance of you and your city in our recovery efforts." Tel'aqua said, stiffly but confidently. He then slumped on the bench, wincing in pain.
The Slann sat in a contemplative silence for some time. One by one, he took a proffered grub, slurping it down noisily until the platter offered up to him was empty. He then turned his attention back to the crippled Starseer in front of him.
"Well said. On behalf of the city of Tlaxtlan, I accept your request. But one thing Xi-Boq did make very clear was how much you do not considered yourselves spawn-kin. As such, any requests for help will come with strings attached. I wish to make sure Tlaxtlan is compensated for any reduction in its capacities. And to prove our good intentions, a supply caravan has already been dispatched to the site of your unfortunate accident."
"Thank you my Lord." Tel'aqua said, awkwardly bowing while sat on the bench. His attendants leaned over, ready to catch the injured Starseer if he should fall. He would have to have a word with the great General Xi-Boq. While he was a mighty warrior and a grand strategist, his diplomatic skills were lacking.
The Slann Mage-Priest took a deep breath and closed his eyes, lapsing into the deep concentration of his kind. Starseer Tel'aqua waited to see if there would be any more but the audience was apparently over.
The ancient Starseer Ockchi-iktotl shuffled into the grand chamber and indicated that Tel'aqua should follow it. One of the temple guard Saurus that was watching over the Slann picked up bench after Tel'aqua had vacated it. It followed them as the Skinks made their way to a side chamber.
"We have a growing problem with the children of the horned rat." The old Starseer explained after his counterpart had sat back on the bench the temple guard had laid down for him. "A sizeable force has been discovered north of the city, centred around a number of Lost Shrines. We are unable as of yet to deduce their motive or what their interest in the Shrines may be, or even if it is connected at all."
"Surely you aren't expecting us to take on a Skaven war host for you?" Tel'aqua objected.
"Ah, but with the help I suspect you will require, this would be of adequate payment. We do not have forces of size enough to cleans the foul vermin from our soil by ourselves. But we do have enough to augment your own forces. We know the land and can guide your forces."
"Our own forces are too, also not large enough to take on an entire Skaven army. If joined by yours, we may have adequate numbers, but the casualty rate would be great."
"Your numbers may not count as much if you were to fight conventionally. However, I see that your warriors possess weapons and equipment that may lay waste to them more effectively. Ah, I see that even you lack confidence in your effectiveness. Perhaps you should consult your war leaders. We can make some of our own forces available for a joint patrol to assess the enemy." Ockchi-iktotl said. He'd been shuffling back and forth across the finely carved tiles of his chamber.
"I believe we can work with that." Tel'aqua said. He would absolutely need to consult with Xi-Boq on this. Fighting a war against the rat kin was certainly not on their agenda for getting the Star Canoe repaired. But then, this was the Old World. A fight with them should never be ruled out of the possibilities.
"In the meanwhile, I would like to establish a meeting between our engineers and your Priests to see what help they can provide." he said.
"That will be arranged. I will send a delegation to their barrios shortly."
"If that is your order, Starseer." Xi-Boq said slowly.
"The Mage-Priest was quite firm and his emissary was quite clear."
"We can certainly make some reconnaissance missions. And it may well be good to give some of the new Saurus some fighting experience against a traditional adversary… But we should avoid being drawn into the kind of conflicts that would affect our battle-readiness. We still have our own mission to accomplish once we are back on course."
"Of course, of course. You are perfectly correct, General Xi-Boq." Tel'aqua said. "I will relay our position to their Starseer."
The Old-Blood bowed his head slightly and turned to leave.
"Oh, General. One more question-"
"Yes, Starseer?"
"What do we have in terms of armour and artillery at our disposal?"
"We have one armoured division of various heavy support weapons. A regiment of transports and two batteries of artillery-"
"Oh, that's wonderful, we should-"
"I can radio for a report on how many need repair. I would, however, advise against their deployment in the jungles of Lustria, Starseer. The labour to clear a road would be excessive."
"How do you define 'excessive'?"
"To carve a path from the crash site to Xahutec it would take perhaps one moon cycle."
"I see. Well, thank you General. I'll discuss with you again once I've talked this over."
The Saurus nodded and left.
Almost a week had gone by as more squads and their equipment entered Tlaxtlan. A temporary set of barracks and other support buildings had been constructed in the plaza that had been used to welcome the initial delegation. Ruq-Gar and Ka'rah butted the head of Scur't'kah in greeting when he arrived in the camp with the rest of their squad. Xi-Boq had the warriors in his delegation training alongside the Saurus they were staying with. Ataxor had also insisted that they do joint patrols too. The arrival of more of their own kind meant that they could practice more familiar drills.
A radio mast had been built on top of a nearby pyramid observatory for better communications with the crash site. Repair work was well underway there. The sizeable military build-up in the city had not gone unnoticed though. Phlemclaw Skritchbone twitched his whiskers as he lay amongst the ruins of an ancient stone structure. He adjusted the focus of his eye-lens, taking in the view of the lizard-things and their strange equipment. They were up to something, he'd almost run into two different patrols while making his way here. He'd slit the throats of the smaller lizard things when on their patrols as a matter of course, but now they were sending out the larger warriors. He itched to spill more of their foul cold blood but for now, he'd do with gathering information.
Ruq-Gar watched another Skink messenger run from the plaza encampment to the temple pyramid. It was the tenth one today. He stood on watch duty outside the stairwell that lead down to the barracks his squad was staying in. Another, native Saurus stood to the other side. They both quietly baked in the mid day sun. Squad Champion Scur't'kah had been extended an offer for residence on the plaza for the squad but turned it down. The tent had been situated close to Scar Veteran Ataxor. With his hatred of the quirks of the New Brood well known, he opted to keep them amongst the quiet indifference of the native Saurus.
While he had his laser rifle slung over his back, Ruq-Gar stood guard with a spear and shield. It was a new spear too. The light glinted off the freshly knapped surface of the obsinite blade and through the thin, razor sharp edge. It had a satisfying weight to it and the balance made it feel so easy and natural to wield. The weapons made back home felt like pale imitations, and in many ways, they were. The wood of their realm was unnaturally grown and only a few decades old. Pollutants and heavy metals permeated it, making it foul to use unless it was heavily lacquered. There were also no sources of obsinite, so new blades were knapped from flints, or made of metal. He could see why some of the Old Brood were reluctant to give up their old ways and old weapons. But of course, they must. If Ruq-Gar had been armed with a spear and shield, even a Lustrian spear and shield, in the battles he'd fought, he would have met his death far sooner, and would have taken down far fewer enemies.
It was a nice spear though. He wondered if he would be able to keep it.
Another of his squad came to relive Ruq-Gar after his eight hour shift. He'd managed to stay absolutely motionless throughout. An unusual feat for his generation. The native Saurus gave him a small nod of acknowledgement as he left.
He met with Ka'rah and Scur't'kah after returning from the armoury. They had some free time on their hands and Scar Veteran Xoc-Xor, who had spawned under the temples of Tlaxtlan, had offered to give a tour for those of the New Brood so that they could learn their history.
Xoc-Xor had lived in and around Tlaxtlan for well over three hundred years, but it hadn't been spawned for another thousand years in the future. However a lot of the cities major features had been constructed in the early period, over a thousand years in the past, before the collapse of the polar gates.
Another two days passed with a few more Skink squads turning up with heavy weapons and two regiments of Cold-One cavalry.
A number of the Tlaxtlan's own Saurus and Skink regiments were being readied too. Xi-Boq summoned his Scar Veterans for a council of war.