94_In Warhammer Fantasy as my ERP Character

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 I lie on the fur bed, using Wolfe as my pillow while also inspecting him as I wait for Zhao Ming. To my bewilderment, Wolfe has no new mutations even after he changed so significantly after being bestowed power by Ulric. This is different from when Khorne changed him as it leaves the mutations behind. This means that either the power Ulric bestows only amplifies what is already there or that he can entirely take back the power he had bestowed. What a cheapskate. But I guess only the Chaos Gods deal in mutations and that the other Gods did not do the same. Pity though, as I can’t replicate this with the others, I was hoping whatever I find can help stabilize the beastmen’s genes. But that is to be expected.

 “Boof.” Wolfe softly barked. Notifying me and Valeria that Zhao Ming has arrived. He entered along with two others. I sensed a connection between the three so the two others must be his dragon-blooded children or something. But to my surprise, he did not bring along anyone else. Is he still confident that the three of them can run away in case I did something or is it a sign of trust?

 “Wee. Forgive me to not prepare anything. My arrival here is abrupt.” I greet them without sitting up. Then a few of my shamans entered and put down some pillows that were used by the ogres based on its size and cleanliness. Zhao Ming sat on the pillow without a second thought, already having dealt with ogres before while his children followed soon after.

 “Before we begin, I would like to apologize for my daughter’s reaction. She mistook your proposal for something much more… severe and permanent.” I started and paid his trust back first.

 “Ahahaha! Do not worry about that.” He cupped his hand together. “As my children have put it, apparently it was not exactly the appropriate way to propose such a thing.” He answered cordially.

 “But the aim to make an alliance here is true, yes?” He continues

 “Of course. I have heard that you are considering it before you make your proposal.”

 “Indeed. But now that you are here personally, would you mind enlightening me as to why ally with Cathay specifically? Why not the Kingdoms of Ind southwest. I heard there are other beastmen there.”

 “The most important thing is of course stability. I haven’t heard much of Ind, but they don''t exactly seem like a united nation. My herd’s arrival there can shake things up, especially if one of their kings, Raja as what they are called, epts my herd. The others will see it as a threat or a power y.” I bullshit through. They are never depicted officially as far as I remember and they are only a footnote during End Times so I don’t know anything about them.

 “I am grateful for yourpliment.” He epts without a sign whether what I say is true or not.

 “The other thing isnd. The Warpstone Desert is vast and uninhabited.” I decided to add some truth to it so he didn’t call me out on my bullshit. To this, he is visibly surprised.

 “You n to settle the desert?” He repeats to confirm

 “Permanently and if necessary. Unless of course, our alliance stands and you can provide a better ce.” I add and he frowns as he thinks. I let him think in silence. Seeing his two children, both are equally bewildered by my words. Technically it won’t matter even if I settle in the Warpstone Desert. I think it is possible to transform the desert simrly like in Drakwald with my divinity. It will take significantly longer and it won’t be a lush forest, but livable.

 “What drove you to such lengths?” He finally asks

 “I can’t say. Only that the reason why is going to be revealed soon.” I answer ambiguously. Again silence returns as he thinks. Rubbing his beard as he studies me and Valeria.

 “This alliance, I did not think it will benefit me as much as it benefits yours.” He said it bluntly. Is the politically polite speaking finally over now?

 “Really? And what other benefits do you need to consider to be eptable? I think you were more receptive to the idea before my arrival.”

 “Before I only saw a herd of beastmen and nothing more. Now, I see you and I need something more than vague reasons.” He said confidently. Clearly knowing what I am. Yet he stilles here alone with only his two children. Which means he has prepared something that allows swift escape and also buying time for something. Again I am at a disadvantage when negotiating terms like this. I think I have the power to block whatever he has that can ensure escape with my Space concept if it relies on teleportation. But that only proves there’s no sincerity in the alliance offer.

 “I can’t say more for the reason other than survival and that it will be revealed before this year ends.” I said firmly. Pushe to shove, we will settle deep in the Warpstone Desert near the foot of the Mountains of Mourn. While this means that the new base will be sandwiched between the ogres and Cathay, if hostilities are unavoidable, it will be a very good ground for battle experience.

 “Of course my herd will help defend Cathay should the need arise and I expect the same in return, as for other benefits,” Then I heard heavy footsteps and I sensed Dorn had returned. I smiled as I had found my advantage. “Why don’t I just show you.” I rise and beckon the rest to follow.

 Exiting the tent, the raucous atmosphere of the camp has turned more subdued as Dorn arrived. Carrying a huge Warpstone almost twice his size. He drops the Warpstone outside the camp. Quaking the earth from its weight.

 “The other benefit, Zhao Ming, is that I n to make a gate, linked directly to my Herdstone back within the Empire. I am sure we can negotiate a fair deal on using my gate to expedite trade between Grand Cathay and the Empire of Man in the west and everything that follows the removal of travel distance.” I exined and his eyes widened for a blink as he understood the implication. As I have stated my willingness to settle the desert and now with the gate, alliance between me and him is actually no longer a strict necessity. Alliance with me will provide him with all the benefits I have stated while refusing will add a potential enemy very near that can reinforce instantly whenever necessary.

 “AHAHAHAHAHA!” Zhao Mingughs loudly. “You drive a hard bargain!” He then said, technically it is closer to an ultimatum.

 “Very well then.” He turned and looked up at me. “This alliance, I will ept if only you swear it.” Again it is the fact that I am a daemon that blocks this alliance into form. I guess a daemon as an ally is more of a risk than another unruly neighbor like the ogres.

 “I am sorry. I’m afraid I cannot do that.” I have gotten this far without swearing anything and now that my Divinity is already very high, I must also be careful to not add a burden or an oath that might be absolutely enforceable should I ascend to be a proper God. “What I can do is that I promise to uphold the alliance, to defend Cathay should the need arise if you do the same as long as you did not betray this alliance first.” I offer the next best thing before an oath.

 “Good enough.” He concedes. Much to his children''s shock. “Then I too promise to uphold this alliance, to defend the Golden Herd should the need arise if you do the same as long as you did not betray this alliance first.” He repeats my promise. This went smoother than I expected. Wonder what reason made him ept so readily.

 Then a loud and long and deafening horn sounds from the south. Echoing through the desert and the sky. The earth rumbles as thousands of ogres march from the south.

 “I hope you wouldn’t mind that I invite some guests.” He said beforeughing again. This must be what he’s buying time for. “Now I must return. This alliance must be celebrated.”

 “Then I will prepare the gate.” He nods and finally leaves with his children. I breathe a sigh of relief. This polite form of speaking and negotiating is exhausting. The beastmen''s usual approach of fighting and assimting other hordes is much preferable to me. But I know that is not possible with other races. Well maybe it can work with the ogres and the orks, but not the rest.

 “So the alliance is made, mother?” Valeria finally speak

 “Yes, finally.”

 “All that speaking is so convoluted, must we do that from now on?” Valeria asks, clearly having the same opinion as me on just fighting.

 “Unfortunately, yes. You have been observing in silence so far, what do you think?”

 “It''s tedious.” I chuckle at her response. “But I guess we have not much choice against arger enemy.”

 “We don’t. Well at least not yet. And I think this is much better this way, the beastmen have formed an alliance of huge warherd like this. Think of it that way but with other races instead.”

 “Then we must also give what the other needs or wants.”

 “Yes, but also be careful. When negotiating, the other party might be just buying time like Zhao Ming did. While he did ept the alliance for some reason in the end, he also buys time for the ogres to arrive.” She nods at my teaching

 “I don’t like him.” She finally concludes her opinion of him

 “Hmmm. But if his interest in you still stands, I think you can learn much from him. Now go and prepare the herd.” She finally left and now it''s time for me to build the gate.

 —

 The same evening, off the north coast of Nornd. A secluded bay directly south of the small archipgo with jagged reefs named Manaan’s Teeth.

 “LAAAAAND!” Manaan shouts joyously on top of the ck Ark. “I can’t believe I am this excited to see LAAAAAAND!” He runs to the edge of the deck to look at thend, the river that meets the sea and the ancient forest of Laurelorn. Trailing behind him are a few dark elven servants, utterly terrified but forced to follow him nheless.

 “Would you believe I almost want to cover the entire world below the sea?” He asks the dark elves with a grin. Not one dark elf answers. They quickly learned that there’s no good answer when Manaan starts asking. They just hope his attention leaves as quickly as mortal sailors would hope the storm passes.

 “That was petty of me. I’m d my parents locked me up.” He turned back to look at thend then to the sea below the deck. There should be at least fifty meter drop from the deck.

 “Anyway, thank you for the lift. Oh, and don’t leave until the day after tomorrow. There’s some surprise for you tomorrow.” He said before jumping from the deck to the sea below. The sea catches him in their embrace and Manaan quickly stands atop of the water. Running joyously on the water to thend following the river upwards. Leaving the dark elves in chaos. With the dread captain dead, some of his surviving lieutenants want to just immediately leave the coast but many already left too terrified to even act against the God of the Sea’s will. Not after what happened below the deck.

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