Off to the back corner of the cave, the swollen gemstone from the recently deceased gembound was placed. Imbued with the essence of Merry Men's grand dictator, who sat on the ledge overlooking the grand caverns. It had been some time coming, that he would finally be able to get his plan in action. A scowl was set on his face as he imagined a world in which everyone stood under the banner of the Merry Men. It would be grand, there would be unity and he would have served his purpose. All who didn't find a slot within his unified society would be executed. Only those who were worthy and applying themselves to better their person and their brethren deserved life.

"Penelope." Merely speaking her name through their internal connection, he didn't bother elaborating further. Everyone would be coming and he teetered forward on his paws as he bellowed in the loudest voice he could muster. "GATHER HERE TODAY IN THE ETERNAL LIGHT OF ORIGIN CAVE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GRAND REUNIFICATION OF THE MERRY MEN." Hardly a motivational summoning, but it was something and as he rocked back, his tail swept over his paws. Larvae and worms were crawling beneath his skin, gently raising the fur and his eye twitched at the feeling. It was disgusting and unsettling to feel and he made sure to force them deep down into his subconscious so as not to disturb him when giving this meeting.

"Icarus, I hope you're watching." As he looked upon the stone, he saw the fleeting moment of a dark shadowed fox sweep past his vision. It startled him, but it was most likely just a trick of the light, it played games sometimes.

"DO NOT FORGET WHO I AM"
"DO NOT FORGET I AM IN YOUR HEAD"

table by lisa

Anyone w/ interest in joining Merry Men may post in this thread as well. I will sort you into the correct group <3

@Othello @Penelope @Nemesis @Fleur @Rimese @Gadanai

Penelope was scrounging for some form of food. Moss, sprouting grasses and weed, the occasional stick... anything she could chew on and swallow. It wasn't particularly satisfying, but filling her belly was the only goal. Taking away the feeling of her gut eating itself was satisfaction enough. As her name was whispered into her own head, she found herself not at all ready.

Dammit, Louie.

With no amount of haste, she headed for the Merry Men dictator, unenthused by whatever he might have on his mind. However, as his voice rang out, she came to realize it wasn't just her, this time. This time, she'd be finally meeting the entire group for the first time. Something that made her pause, ears dropping. She tried her best to talk back to him mentally.

"Louie, I don't know them, I don't even trust YOU."

---

"Speech"
Thoughts.
Louie's Bullshit.
@Louie

Frankly, she'd been waiting around for quite some time. Not necessarily by hanging in the area; no, she was much too busy keeping an eye on Jasmine for that. However, she occasionally wandered into Merry Men territory, waiting for that opportunity to finally make it into a group that gave her the right gut feeling. Something in the air must of drawn her to them. There couldn't possibly be any other explanation. Today was just one hell of a lucky day, it seemed. As soon as she was back in the area to check things out, the voice rang out, bouncing off cave walls. Gadanai smiled widely, picking up the pace instantly. Even with four knees, an elephant could cover quite a bit of ground in a good amount of time. Giddiness filled her up as the sight of red fur captured her sight, a bellow from her trunk signalling her presence. Her 3 tons of weight skid to a halt, creating a bit of a dusty fog at her feet as she nearly sat on the ground to properly stop. Bright red eye smiled at Louie, trunk curled around a long, blood-stained tusk. Any more excitement from her and she might be caught drooling. It was sick, sad, but who she enjoyed being. A true monster. A being who dealt death mercilessly and without bias. All she sought here was possibility to have an excuse for such dirty deeds. To hide who she really was as well as she possibly could, despite having been exposed a handful of times, now. "I'm here and I'm ready," she said wickedly. Gadanai's tail swayed, ears fanning slowly while eyes locked onto the much smaller fox. How could someone so puny be a leader of a group? She wasn't quite sure, but there was likely a reason. At least, she hoped on it. To follow someone unworthy - to her - would be a pure waste of precious time. Not that anyone could name something better she could be doing. "Speech" Thoughts Tag: @Louie

Nemesis

Nemesis came at Louie's call, as she always did. The lumbering trinoceros noticed not Lou first, nor his victim, her attention catching first upon Gadanai. The Elephant.

It was not her place, she supposed, to murmur ill will towards anyone or anything. Especially not someone she had almost wished to call her own daughter. The fact of the matter was that with Gadanai here, she felt a defensive pride, a bubbling anger, in her chest. Her daughter, Hestia, was coming with her to this meeting, and while Nemesis was not afraid of Gadanai, she was aware of how cruel she was. Her child, however, was soft and sweet and full of only kindness and love-- as far as she knew-- and these things made her delicate despite her sturdy, powerful will.

And Nemesis had sworn that if anyone hurt Hestia, they would not live to see it through. Nemesis knew Gadanai, not personally, but as though she knew herself-- it was, ironically, as though the elephant was some mirrored version of herself, from someplace darker and crueler somehow. Quietly, the mutated rhinoceros knew the difference: Nemesis had Magdalena and found beauty and nurturing in her love.

Gadanai had only found arrogance and selfishness.

"Hestia," Nemesis hissed as she drew closer, drawing upon her magic with a firm decisiveness. The mother said nothing more, the word holding a silent, stay close, my child. She raised her head high as she approached, willing flames to lick off her skin at every biting edge, feeling all of her emotions crash against her walls at once.

Her dark, midnight blue eyes passed over a small newcomer, briefly, as though she hadn't even acknowledge Penelope, and then locked upon Louie.

And Nemesis said not another word, did not breathe another breath, gathering her strength as though the last few cycles hadn't been shredding her apart.

table by shax


@Hestia

Hestia had never been to a Merrymen Meeting. Well, she had been to many family ones. Technically they were composed of many members of the MM! Granted that it was often held by one of her two beautiful mothers, but that was beside the point! Upon hearing the loud voice of someone rather peculiar she perked up. Not much had been happening lately, perhaps this meeting would inform them where her loving Borzoi and 'siblings' had gone? Hope rising up within the hybrid she followed in suit behind her mother. Catching up in a few moments to stroll beside her. Shell glistening and extending her neck slightly she craned it upwards. Attempting to get a better glance at what other gembounds were up ahead. They were species she had not met, so this tactic was of little use to try and figure who they possibly were. But, they were Merrymen so it would be interesting to finallymeet the others! Though Hestia didn't mind that she was just meeting them now, being born into the group roughly 7 cycles ago and all. Perhaps there was a reason her mother(s) had waited so long. Either way this was sure to be fun!

At least until Nemesis took the lead. Immediately she could feel the heat radiating through the trinoceros, this would be rather interesting. Perhaps there was a very good reason as to why she was meeting the others now. Hestia was rather excited still! It was such a sight to see something her size smile so widely and glide with ease across the stone floor. The new faces were a buffet for the senses, so many species she hadn't quite met! until she stopped her gaze at the elephant...she had not met one herself but had heard of their appearance. Was this the elephant that had fought her mother so long ago? Oh the hybrid was one not to forget such an event done to her mother, salt still fresh in the wound that was her loving hybrid heart.

Apparently neither did her mother, calling her sweet name and drawing the fire that was jut beneath her hide. Flames crackling and licking across the trinoceros with a display that was damn near primal. Hestia stayed close or as close as she could, she didn't mind the flames much; she was her mother's daughter after all. But what stirred up the hybrid was why her mother behaved in such a way, was it the elephant that caused such a display? Her mind reeled, thinking heavily as she stood beside her mother in silence. Should she too act tough? Mimic her mother?

No, she would wait. Her mother always had a reason, and they both had a part to play no matter the situation. Whatever the events she would let it unfold. She would soon understand, it wasn't often that the two needed to speak to come up with plans. A glance was more than enough. Perhaps she was more like her mother than she realized.

It was disheartening to see such a dismal turnout. Penelope came, of course she did. What a good lamb. "You'll be fine. Everyone here is goal orientated towards a brighter Merry Men." That sickening glint entered his eye. "Just stay beside me and it will be fine." However it was quite odd when he was the smallest, not even by one or two times. Almost five times smaller than everyone else in the room as they began to flood in. Penelope looked tiny by comparison. Hestia, the daughter of one Nemesis was certainly an interesting creature, and he nodded to each woman as she entered.

The most recent addition, a bloodthirsty elephant excited him the most. That battle with Nemesis had shown him the raw power the two leathery creatures possessed. So heated and violent that it almost put Louie in a euphoric state. Even if their numbers were low, on the premise of sheer firepower they outranked all. Ears perked, he giggled slightly. "I'm glad we are all here," it was a sore spot to notice that the feminine borzoi was not beside the trinoceros. It nearly soured his mood as he spoke. "Due to the recent absence of most creatures within Origin Cave, it only makes sense that we take this opportunity to rise above and claim our place as the dominant group." More like he was a power hungry freak who needed leadership and fear in order to give himself some feeling of redemption for his own inadequacies.

"Recently I acquired some extensive mind manipulation magic which I believe could help in swaying some of the more opinionated." Brain wash them. "First, we will need more members. Not entirely sure how many more but more are needed. Other than that, you can begin to pillage and plunder all you like. I want our name to be common place. I want us to be feared."

No more was he the fox Penelope had been speaking to prior, "Do I have any questions so far?"

"DO NOT FORGET WHO I AM"
"DO NOT FORGET I AM IN YOUR HEAD"

table by lisa

@Penelope @Gadanai @Hestia @Nemesis

Rimese had been walking around in Monoceros, used to the whirling winds, unlike when he had first hatched. He hadn't been here in a while. He continued walking around for a bit, unsure of what to do when a voice caught his attention. It sounded vaguely familiar, as if he had met whoever it was, but it had been a long time. He followed it, and came across a fox looking out over a rather small crowd.

He crept closer and sat a distance away from the others, looking up at Louie-he was able to remember his name. He hadn't seen him in a while, and recalled that he had said he was the leader of the Merry Men. Perhaps this was a meeting? It surely was. Was he allowed to be here? He had expressed interest in being a part of the group, and he supposed he still did now. So he figured it couldn't hurt to stay and listen, see if he was noticed.

A euphoric feeling cast itself over the maned wolf man that day, lifting him up and well... making him see things. Pupil's dialated with blood smeared across his face from his latest carniverous meal, Othello heard the fox's call out to the group. He never really left Monoceros, not even to look for Odyssey, but it still took some time for hin to meander over to the group that settled with a fresh batch of the mushrooms he had found earlier that day. It took him some time to meander over to the group in the state he was in, but he hadn't expected the group he saw to already be starting, without him no less. His brows furrowed when he saw a Tapir at the side of the fox, a pang of jealously filling his emotions. He paused a moment to take in the crowd before approaching Louie directly, caring little about those he walked in front of or through to get to him at the tail end of his speech where he asked others for their questions. It was a thing now, bringing Louie gifts. This time, mushrooms with a pretty decent high were the choice of the day, something Louie would hopefully enjoy. He placed the mushrooms at the fox's feet, looking Louie in the eyes before his glance shifted to the Tapir again, jealously bleeding from his every pore. "Speech!" TABLE CODE © RASTA 2016

His reassurance wasn't all to reassuring, but regardless, she finished closing the gap between them by trotting to his side, then laying down to make herself seem smaller. Quite difficult when you weighed a quarter ton and settled down next to a fox. Even if his voice was big and booming, today. She could smell a mixture of creatures, ears laid back as her shy nature took over. It seemed like a good time to lay her head down on the ground, just in time for the sound of feet approaching Louie.

---

"Speech"
Thoughts.
Louie's Bullshit.
@Louie

Why should I welcome
Your domination?
Nemesis' eyes were a deep, cold blue as she gazed upon the scene, watching as a stranger, a gentle looking tapir, settled down next to the tiny, insignificant fox they called a leader. She met the girl's eyes and understood, if only for a moment, what was happening. She had seen it so many times before, and as she looked among the gathered, she could feel the wrongness in the air.

Why should I listen
To explanations?
The flames on Nemesis' body came off in waves, burning skin as it licked up her body. She could feel her entire body blaze with heat, the crackling drowning out everything but the thunder of her heartbeat and Louie's own words. "I'm glad we are all here," His very first words brought bile to her lips, the words on the tip of her tongue, Where is Diamondfang? Her foot kicked at the dirt, side-eyeing the elephant who's very presence defied who she was and threatened her daughter's life.

I'm not pretending
To make it simple.
The quietness of the caves had given Nemesis a lot of time to think. She stood now, those thoughts boiling away in her guts, her massive tail swishing slowly from side to side, her ears flicking attentively. "Due to the recent absence of most creatures within Origin Cave, it only makes sense that we take this opportunity to rise above and claim our place as the dominant group." Anger boiled in her, Where is my Princess? Now was not the time for war. Now was not the time for fighting. Their own ranks had vanished-- even Fleur, had disappeared without a trace-- and Louie spoke of domination? Of causing more strife, bringing violence to their own home?

Try to be something
Experimental...
Of course he did. He had always been that way. Once, briefly, she had found respect for him-- when he had returned, when she thought that he had been reigned in. When she foolishly believed he had learned from the Dragon and the Numbat. It seemed the coward was keen to hide behind his task force again, throwing not only her but her daughter into the line of chaos yet again. She remembered last time. She could still feel the affects of Raheerah's violence along her flanks, where her skin was harder and thicker, where her tail was heavy, where her head had grown frills and horns to protect her neck.

You don't turn me off
I will never fail.
The idiot had returned in full force. "Recently I acquired some extensive mind manipulation magic which I believe could help in swaying some of the more opinionated." Recently, he said. Oh, he was such a fool to think he could conquer everyone's mind. He would never have her, nor her child, nor her precious Princess. He would have the weak, the helpless, the numbat and the tapir... But he had already forgotten that doing this only bred hate, and in the end, he would pay.

Things I loved before,
are now for sale,
"First, we will need more members. Not entirely sure how many more but more are needed. Other than that, you can begin to pillage and plunder all you like. I want our name to be common place." As though the Merrymen didn't already pillage and plunder-- but really, how could they now? They lacked the mastermind, brilliant, arrogant Fang. Without her, there would be no thieving. And who would join them? No one cared for the Merrymen, no, they never had. There was a reason why they were mocked, hated, outcast. Why Nemesis had to protect her last remaining child.

Keep yourself away
Far away from me!
Hasira's desire for power and war had killed her other children. She was sick of the death, of the dying. I want us to be feared." The Merrymen wouldn't be feared; the caves did not know fear. They only knew destruction. If they knew fear, hah, if they knew any hint of fear, Raheerah the great Fire would have ruled them. No, there would always be those who would rise. Louie only wanted blood. Slaughter. Pain.

I'll Forever stay
Your perfect enemy!
"Do I have any questions so far?"

No longer waiting
Remove illusions...
There was a slow, rolling, rumbling laughter from the massive trinoceros. Her heavy feet shook the earth as she approached Louie, flames scorching the earth under her. The air was thick with the revolting stench of burning flesh, and her dark eyes narrowed at Louie.

No more complaining
Forget confusion!
"I have a question," she began, her voice soft and gentle, almost playful. "Why are you so weak and pathetic? You've always hid behind Fang, and Magdalena, and your children and me, and now Gadanai? You cower, taking advantage of gembounds who are weak to fuel your disgusting fetish for dominance."

No more compassion,
Not sentimental...
Her eyes flashed to Penelope, a mothering glance to the tiny herbivore, knowing this was exactly what Hasira had hated. He had been right, for all that he was just as stupid as Louie. "And why should I follow you? You abandoned us, you risked our lives with Baratheon and then you vanished with him, leaving us with the threat of a war you were too afraid to fight!"

I am now something
Experimental!
Her head turned, glancing to Gadanai. "You don't deserve a place in my home, but even you should be able to see Louie isn't worth calling leader." Her gaze softened only slightly at Othello and Rimese, trying not to think of what had happened to Odyssey and Illiad-- two children she had adored despite their father-- "He abandons his children, his family; he won't care when any of us disappear. He isn't fit to rule anything, much less claim ultimate power. He's a pathetic worm, and I'm going to squash him like I should have done when..." Her eyes focused back on Louie, disgust rolling off of her tongue and rage pounding in her heart.

You don't turn me off
I will never fail!
"When you took advantage of my princess, you sick fuck!"

Things I loved before,
are now for sale!
It had been a long time coming. She lunged-- predictably, but with alarming speed-- at Louie with her horn, aiming to impale him. She had loved Louie's children, she had loved Magdalena and put her trust in Fang... But with them gone, she could see clearly. She understood.

Keep yourself away
Far away from me!
Nemesis would kill Louie before she'd let him take over the Caves.

I'll Forever stay
Your perfect enemy

{ FIGHT STATISTICS }
NEMESIS V. LOUIE
I OF ???

{ ATTEMPT }

~ gore the shit out of louie

{ DEFENSES }

~ horns first, questions later

{ INJURIES }

~ prior injuries;;

• nothing major

~ current injuries;;

• minor burns from smolderstep