graphic gore ★ genderfluid ★ australian crow

The crow, perched on the faded ears of a decrepit jackal statue, screeched. Vale hopped in place, screamed again, and fluffed up vis wings. Then the crow stopped hopping, cleared vis throat, and looked very seriously down at the animals that appeared out of the desert to see what all the commission was.

"We are gathered here today, to sing a beautiful song of my own devising," Vale said, very serious-like. The crow bobbed vis head, nodding, and hopped from foot to food. "Now, this is a topic very dear to my heart. I'm so sad about the outcome from Stryker's visit, and I would like to draw attention to some facts that I believed were overlooked since the event."

Vale ruffled vis wings, cleared vis throat again, and nodded. "I invite you all to sing along on the refrain! In fact, I encourage it!" Then Vale took a deep breath, the deepest inhale Vale'd taken that day, and proceeded to scream.

I once met a faerie who said I was scary
He pretended he couldn't hear my cheer,
So I screamed LOUDER, LOUDER, LOUDER
Until my throat went hoarse from the force
Of demanding he hear my voice

You can't hear a threat! You can't hear a threat!
You can't lead, if you can't hear a threat!
You can't hear a threat! You can't hear a threat!
You can't lead, if you can't hear a threat!

Lookie loo, do you even hear a boo?
Because you ignored my challenge, right in the open,
And nobody knows when you’ll stop acting green,
Because a leader who listens, like you pretend to be,
WOULD HEAR ME, not fear me

You ignored a challenge! You ignored a challenge!
You can't lead, if you ignored a challenge!
You ignored a challenge! You ignored a challenge!
You can't lead, if you ignored a challenge!
And if you can't hear a threat!

Faerie Man, are you still around,
Because I heard you scream at every sound!
Are you hiding? Are you even good at fighting?
I know I'm a monster, but you're mediocre!
Prove me wrong, come a little closer!

You cower, you coward! You cower, you coward!
You can't lead, if you cower from fear!
You cower, you coward! You cower, you coward!
You can't lead, if you cower from fear!
And if you ignored a challenge!
And if you can't hear a threat!

Giddy, the crow hopped from foot to foot, wings fluttering. "Hehehe, now, what did we all learn? THAT GAEL IS A COWARD AND A HYPOCRITE. Very good, brain-of-mine, that's correct! I did challenge Gael, which is a tradition from when the Pitt was founded, and Gael did absolutely nothing!" A cackle tore out of Vale's throat, and the crow twitchily trembled on vis roost. "Haha. Hahaha! HAHAHA! Why do any of you listen to a coward like that? I thought we were supposed to be fearsome!"

Chernabog

"I leave for a few days and this happens!" The dark force chided, tired face twisted into a snarl, blood on her face, and a mangled mass of scales clutched by her talons. "Are you sure it's a song, Shapeshifter? Or some talons on stone."

She looked to Jack, amused at his refrain, but spikes on her back shifted as she turned back to the crow. Vale could have at least looked more intimidating, she knew vey had the ability to. She was terrible at rhyming. "Only few stanzas from me, you shall get."

"Let it be known, this burning day,
That a pittian proclaimed, screamed at the sky to say,
Our leader is weak and unfit to rule!
But I say otherwise, oh yes I do.
Gael is strong and sound of mind, his daughter too!

I am a beast of chaos, indeed
But even I can see when the deed
of bloodshed is needed
and when it is unnecessary!

So think before you speak,
my fellow Pitt member.
Words are pieces on a chessboard,
and there is always a queen."

She sounded tired, annoyed at the situation she decided to return to. In reality, she liked the discourse that was happening now, ever since that white lion showed his alabaster face on Pittian sands. She just wishes some people were quieter about it, and not screaming about it every chance they had.

graphic gore ★ genderfluid ★ australian crow

Vale hopped on vis claws, pleased the dragons came over to offer their words. The crow bobbed vis head, listening intently, but then shook vis head at the end. “Don’t you see, you’re proving my point. Why did you two come out to play, while Gael hides away?” Vale tutted to vemself, scuffling on the jackal statue’s head.

Round two! The crow seeks its due
I scour on my tower for the fox who cowers,
But all I see are dragons lacking brainpower,
For I’d see them empowered to rain a fire shower,
While Gael ignores their power.

I’d see the world seeded with bloodshed as needed.
The Typhoon’s cartoon goons succeeded,
And you’re too blind to concede their deed.
But what should I have expected?
I’m an ittle wittle crow and you two’re bigheaded!

Is the faerie man afraid of my tiny brain?
Or is he chained to his bed with a flu strain?
I’m a bane on his reign,
But I don’t claim the reins for personal gain.
Remind me again, who lost an eye for Rhy?

But, you know me, a lost eye’s an entree.
I eat my own limbs like a homegrown buffet.
The decay is a display to portray
All the feelings words can’t convey.
Because a knife for life’s strife? Cliche.

Oops, I roasted myself! Take a note
It’s better than what you wrote!

Now tell me, you two, why you depend
On a boring old man nearing his end?
He has no plan to expand our land.
How can we live on a wasteland
When our enemies occupy a dreamland?

Chernabog

Take it as one wishes, Cherna was beginning to see why poems were not her forte. She had a way with words, yes, but hated trying to rhyme with improv. Vale's words knocked on the doors of her beliefs, and she listened intently, creating a beat by slamming her hand down on the sands without knowing it. Slowly she nodded, thinking of what to say for a moment, before...

"You hold a valid point
Lacking brainpower though? Please take note
I'm new to the lands, and I held power in my old
I bide my time and wait to take hold.

You'll have to spill for me
What the issues this 'Typhoon' group are
for, again, I know not what happens by the sea.
I've yet to travel that far.

Our leader says he cares,
and I've believed him
but now that you've mentioned it
With his 'caution' we may not last.
And you have proved you'd do anything for a member.

Your ability to shift amazes me
you can be anything you wish to be
The only thing I've done noteworthy
was taking on a shielded head for no one to see!

You're beginning to persuade me,
keep your sweet-talking up.
I may consider this shtick worthy.
And reconsider my piece on this board."

She hissed to herself for a moment, before sighing. "I can't rhyme and rhythm to save my life."

graphic gore ★ genderfluid ★ australian crow

“Oh, goodie, time for a history lesson!” Vale squawked. “I’ll take a quick little break from rhyming, just to explain all this bullshit….”

“First, the Typhoon are a bunch of pirates living on a jungle paradise. Their leader, Goldenluxury, once took over the Pitt. She’s interfered in our politics, external and internal, for a long while. She’s the one that ruined the Pitt’s fun when Vinegar—Tanglewood’s leader—was held captive here. Currently, the Typhoon and Tanglewoods are allies, but… they used to not be. In fact, I believe they hated each other, if my sources from the dusty old records are correct.”

The crow rolled vis eyes when Aine showed up and did her little bit. Ve fluttered vis wings, shook vis head, and turned to her retreating figure. “If you’re not going to stick around for my response, I won’t bother. Per the rules of a rap battle, you forfeit! You think I’m Stryker’s tool? Like you’re not sucking your daddy’s tool already!” The crow tisked. Ve covered the side of vis beak with a wing and winked at Chernabog. “Oh, yeah, it was a Tangler that burned the Pitt’s jungle down, but… you see…!”

“He was a Roux! Yes, discovering this was really boring, I did some little reading and digging around after Stryker appeared on the border. He’s… what, Goldenluxury’s cousin? Uncle? Long-lost brother? Whatever. Point is, Tanglewoods and Typhoon? They’re tight because of family. Wouldn’t be surprised if Goldenluxury and her pirate crew had a hand in motivating Crow about burning the jungle.”

“You might be wondering why it matters that the Tangler was a Roux. Well! The founding leader of Typhoon was a Roux. Then his daughter is… Goldenluxury! And Goldenluxury’s aunt, Roxanne, is her second in command! And Goldenluxury’s three healers—Roan, Rosemary, and Lawkit—are all Roux family members. If you ask me, there’s some nepotism afoot… it’s a little stinky. But! That part is speculation, perhaps they really are fair and all about their rankings. My main point is that the Tangler who burned the place was a Roux, closely related to Goldenluxury, and the leader who created the alliance between Typhoon and Tanglewoods! Suspicious, ayyyyye?”

“Now, the Tanglewoods have a nasty territory. It’s a swamp with a bunch of nasty gunk in it. Like I wouldn’t be surprised if their members laid shiny pollution eggs out of their asses! So we don’t want their territory, obviously.” Vale shook vis head and settled into a more comfortable perch on the jackal statue’s ear. “So! I’d much rather take the Typhoon’s territory. It’s nicer. And those pirates haven’t gotten a reprisal in too long.”

Vale, safely atop the large jackal statue, looked out to Atticus. "SORRY! I'LL RAP QUIETER NEXT TIME, BUDDY!"

Chernabog

Tiny ears flicked in annoyance at the dainty fleshweaver's words. Maybe Cherna should leave for another few days and see what happened. But it would be her luck to leave when something drastic happens. Oh, say, a coup? Doubtful, but not improbable. A rough shrug came from the beast as she listened to Vale's history lesson. Familial ties in power - where had she read something like that before?

A low roar, quiet but not too quiet, echoed from her as she thought. It was quite the history lesson, so she had to think a bit before saying anything. "First things first -- thank you for the history lesson. Second -- Is Stryker that white lion? I never cared to ask his name. Thirdly -- Why the fuck would anyone with sense live in such a nasty swamp? Especially if it's as bad as you say."

Looking to Atticus, she groaned and rolled her eyes. "Get earplugs." She grumbled, then stretched her neck a bit. She liked being loud when she wanted to, like when she joined the Pitt. Thinking of which, where had Jor gone? He was there one moment, caught her interest, then suddenly disappeared.

graphic gore ★ genderfluid ★ australian crow

"No problem, no problem... you've gotta be informed if you wanna make good choices, amiright?" Vale’s head bobbed up and down at Cherna’s questions. The bandit’s wings ruffled on vis back and a claw tapped the statue. “Yes, Stryker is the white lion’s name. I validated his claims that he did, in fact, lead the Pitt. Twice! He was eventually overthrown by Jervis, quite violently, but that fits the Pitt’s own traditions for acquiring power.”

Vale shrugged and added, quietly, “Beats me if I know. Maybe they’re too weak to hold better territory. Wouldn’t surprise me. Their leader seems like a pissant, from what I remember of the interclan meeting.”