Lolof Rolls: 79
Pultine gave up her resistance after multiple days in the aerie. The wind was fierce, it whipped around the rocky cliff that was very high up in the mountainous vista where the main government building of the Aerphim was under construction. Tracia, Welboas and the other Supreme mmoatia were there as well, though Welboas, Mocdi and Vaqel, did not share the sleeping chambers that Pultine and Tracia shared with the other Supremes over the days they were there locked in negotiations. The aerie was like a large bowl carved into the rocky cliff and it served as the meeting place of Aerphim leadership before construction of the Arch of Aerphim Government was complete. There were stone structures for sleeping lining the outer edge of the aerie where the various delegates of both sides of negotiations slept between meetings. The accommodations inside were spare but very comfortable; there were beds carved of stone and cushioned with fine pillows made of comfortable fabrics that turned the stone into luxurious beds.
“Have we come to an agreement?” Welboas asked from the center of the aerie. The six Supreme mmoatia stood in a semi-circle facing the seven archangels on the opposite side of Welboas.
Tracia stood in the middle of the mmoatia semicircle with Mocdi and Vaqel on one side, and Pultine on the other. Pultine stood at the end, staring out at the view beyond the aerie, at the bounds of the vista that made it seem they were inside of an enormous snow globe.
“We have discussed the terms,” Tracia said. Her voice was loud over the sounds of the wind, but she spoke easily. “Ahdis, Lorv, Pultine and I have discussed terms. In light of your, Mocdi and Vaqel’s overwhelming confidence in the plans of Lêgba for this extraordinary place he has made, the deciding votes fall to the four of us. We will agree to a cessation of hostilities against Lêgba to allow him to make of this realm what he will, with the exception of Earth and the star cluster to which it belongs. Earth will serve as the seat of Pultine, the official representative of the Fonlands to monitor the conduct of all Fonlanders, and hybrid Fonlanders, of this realm. She has agreed to extend her duties as the Sorrowful Excisor to this realm at the command of Lêgba’s designated voter before our joined councils, Metatron. Lorv has demanded details of her proposed duties as the so-called Explorer Supreme. She is happy to explore the depths of the uncharted regions of this realm, but the crew she takes along with her must be at her discretion. Those details must be hashed out before a final deal is agreed to. And lastly, the issue of procreation between the mmoatia and the archangels is a point of contention. There are three of our number who will willingly produce offspring with an archangel. We see no need for all of us to be asked to bear your children.”
Welboas nodded thoughtfully in the center and turned her gaze to Metatron who stood before the semicircle of archangels. His powerful arms were crossed at his chest and he smiled at Tracia, who stood across from him. They were the same height and their wings at their backs were the same impressive size, though Metatron held his low and Tracia’s were up.
“Producing children furthers the aims of Lêgba,” Metatron said. “It unites us all in that purpose. And our children will be the extraordinary leaders of the fourth sphere of Lêgba’s creation. Our children will lead this wonderful place to prosperity and then we will bring that glory to the universe. The mmoatia are among the most powerful dwellers of the Fonlands and Lêgba wants that power for Endla. We must insist that each of you bear the child of an archangel. Tracia and Pultine, Lêgba asks that you be mothers to my children. Lorv is asked to bear the child of Jophiel. Ahdis, Vaqel, and Mocdi are asked to bear the children of the other archangels. You are all Supreme among Fonlanders and Lêgba must have you all for Endla.”
“Then we are at an impasse.” Tracia said, looking to Ahdis and Lorv. Pultine’s gaze was still very far away.
“Please,” Jophiel said from the ranks of the archangels. They all wore tunics that wrapped only one shoulder and left half their chest bare. “Understand that we mean this only as an arrangement for producing children. None of us are interested in romantic ties…”
“Speak for yourself, sister,” Gabriel said as he eyed Ahdis. “If Ahdis would agree to marry me, I would change my alliance to the mmoatia and vote as she does in all matters.”
Ahdis’s alabaster skin blushed and the red freckles all over her body grew fainter for a moment. She twirled her thick, copper red hair with a finger and batted eyes at the handsome Gabriel with his head of thick black hair. Her copper red wings began to twitch with nervousness.
“What say you, Ahdis?” Tracia asked.
Ahdis looked shocked at Tracia. “I can’t answer the marriage proposal of a stranger.”
“Then perhaps we spend time together…” Gabriel started before Metatron stopped him.
“There will be no talk of marriage or changing alliances at this meeting.”
“It seems that Gabriel has made up his mind to secure the companionship of Ahdis,” Tracia said to Metatron. “It is only fair that they be allowed to discuss it. Unless your individual votes are just an illusion. Do archangels have free will?”
“Not one that is counter to the vision of Lêgba,” Metatron answered. “If Gabriel wishes to court the Immaculate Ahdis, he can do so with the permission of Lêgba.”
“I can’t take much more of this,” Pultine said, and everyone was startled to hear her speak. She hadn’t said much since they arrived to Endla. “We have been here for days, back and forth and you two,” she says pointing at Tracia and Metatron, “are enjoying this too much. I change my vote to side with Welboas, on the condition that Lorv is able to come to agreeable parameters of her duties as Supreme Explorer.”
The archangels are pleased to hear this, as is Welboas and her cohort of mmoatia. Tracia is not happy and she pulls Pultine to the side.
“Why did you do that? A couple more days and we could have limited Lêgba to Endla. We could have narrowed his influence considerably.”
“A couple more days? Tracia, I’m dying up here. This wind is ridiculous, and I hate these posturing games that you do. You should have proposed a fighting tournament like I suggested. We could have killed all of them and been back to our business by now.”
Tracia laughed despite her frustration. “Never change, pristine. Never change, so that I can learn to maneuver around your unpredictability. I thought I had it, but you never cease to amaze me. Once we get through these negotiations, the real battle begins and I’m trying to set us up in the best position possible.”
“We are Supreme,” Pultine says with a look of annoyance on her face. “We can turn everything to our advantage. I’m done here. I’m leaving for Earth, so you need to wrap this up.’
Tracia shook her head and went back to end the negotiations sooner than she’d planned.
When she and Pultine arrived back to the Earth swamp, Lolof was there to greet them. Pultine didn’t acknowledge him and went about her business.
“How’d it go?” Lolof asked.
“Worse than you can ever imagine. Welboas is an embarrassment, and her lackeys are worse. Ahdis has an in with one of the archangels. I have confidence she will work that relationship to our advantage. Lorv is excited to travel. Pultine is sharpening her blade to kill. Everything is just as Lêgba wants. The mmoatia are his maidens now.”
“You can’t mean that,” Lolof said.
“I don’t, but I wanted to be upset that my sisters embarrassed me at our first meeting with Lêgba’s representatives. I should have had more command of everything. But they will underestimate us, and we will strike them down when the opportunity presents itself.”
“I have faith in you,” Lolof says and moves to kiss Tracia.
“We weren’t able to avoid the children thing,” she said as she avoided his affection.
“But you said…”
“I know. But Pultine was close to starting a fight so I had to get her out of there. Each one of us will bear their children. I will bear Metatron’s.”
Lolof nodded absently and walked away from Tracia. He walked into the waters of the swamp without saying a word.
Game Move:
GM: Sorry everybody, give me a minute. Lolof took the portal to the Fonlands and I have to wait for him to arrive. So, I guess this is how Agiel and Zazel came to be. And Jophiel has a baby mama, that’s cool. I guess a female archangel can be a father. I think Lolof’s available now. Hey Lolof?
Lolof: Oh, hello. Sorry, this is not a great time. My love has left me. She probably thinks I am weak and not deserving to be the father of her children.
GM: I’m sorry, man. But I think you should have more faith in Tracia. Don’t you see her relationship with Pultine? If Pultine didn’t act so rashly, maybe Tracia would be able to bend more things to Pultine’s liking. Let her do her thing. She’s powerful, if she says she loves you, she has no reason to lie.
Lolof: If you say so. But if I can manage to kill Welboas, she will see how strong I am..
GM: You didn’t roll enough. I’m sorry. You sent some assassins after Welboas and she destroyed them, but not before she learned you sent them.
Lolof: Of course! That’s just my luck. Now Tracia and the other mmoatia will be even more hostile to the yumboes.
GM: You wanna do anything?
Lolof: I want to go home. I’m going home.
GM: Ok, cool, but don’t leave just yet, I have to…Well, he’s gone. I was gonna say, roll 2d10 for a combined score of 5 to go home and wait to see the consequences of the failed assassination. I’ll have to catch up to him to see if he’s still playing.
Tune in next week to find out if Lolof is still in the game!
PRL Serials 