The Emperor's New Groove (Samael)

[marina]

“Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart.”-- Marcus Aurelius

She was on a mission. For the last few days she'd been researching draconic lore for the specifics on an artifact that was needed at the store. It was a vague sort of quest to be sure, her concept of what this artifact was was sketchy at best and all she knew was that dragons feared it above all other. That's what made it so ironic that she was looking for it. If anyone should be running the other way in regards to dragon damaging artifacts it should be her. She had more reason to fear such a thing than anyone. Idly she wondered if that was why she looked for it. She was always one to face her fears and stand her ground when it made sense to do so.

That was why she snorted when there were stories of a mystical book that the dragons feared. The only thing dragons had feared was their former emperor Samael Draconlur and he'd been gone since she was a child which was quite some time ago. Only Dagon was close to her real age and he was a bit too addled to comment on it most days. As she opened books and placed them in stacks to be put away she found herself wishing she was anywhere but here at this moment. 'One more book and then its lunch time.' she promised herself as she picked out another book and set it on her desk. She then opted to put the stacks she had collected back. She was after all, neat. It wouldn't do to have things out of order. There was little enough you could control in the world but cataloging gave you the illusion of control and she relished it when she had to do it.

She found it ironic that she was dressed in something the late emperor might recognize at least remotely.The cut was very roman and her jewelry harkened back to those bygone days. She was even wearing the right color for her clan. She didn't know why she was feeling so maudlin today, she shouldn't be but at this moment she felt as if she was awaiting some doom and yet pulled towards destiny. An odd enough feeling for a dragon, let alone one as old as herself. Still, as she set the last book on the shelf she looked back at the book that she'd placed on her desk and bit her lip. Going over to the wingback chair she sat down and opened the book. It was in a dialact only the oldest of dragons knew and certainly no one from this area. Sighing she placed her hands upon the book and the knowledge passed into her mind. Her normally brown eyes opened to reveal a startling cobalt blue as the power came upon her.

In a dialect only few had heard she began chanting, her frail form felt energy coalesce around her and it blew her hair into her eyes. Brushing her long brown curls aside she regarded what the spell had wrought with trepidation and fear.

'What have I done?'

[Samael Draconlur]

Antarctic

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He had been in his slumber for what seemed like eternity. So many years had gone by, and so much had changed. But not this. Not his prison. A place where the earth met ice and the wind. A place where he had been imprisoned so long ago. This landmass was created to contain the mighty dragon, and the point was made for him to remain imprisoned and hidden. So many would risk everything to find the Emperor, and many have tried and failed. Even if they did find him, they could not wake him without the right words. It was why those that originally imprisoned him gave the book that contained the secrets of freeing him to an Alpha. So that the prophecy could never be fulfilled.

And so it shall be,
When a dragon with water in their veins
reads from the book of Draconlurotos,
the Emperor shall walk the Earth again.

Time went on, and Samael slumbered within his icy prison little did dragon-kind know, that the prophecy was ready to be fulfilled. It was time for the Emperor to rise again, and reclaim his fallen kingdom in the name of the Draconlur Clan. In the name of all dragons that would fight beside him.

As the icy tundra of the Antarctic continued its routine cycle over Samael's prison, the earth began to shake underneath as the curious little Shang Dragon in London began to recite the chant. Within that very moment, images of Samael flashed into her head, and a fully, detailed history of his brutality in combat began to flood her mind. Suddenly, for the first time in thousands of years, Samael opened his eyes wide and broke through the other side. Once his feet touched the icy ground, the earth seemingly began to stop shaking. As such, the Emperor looked around and observed the area, his heart filled with the anger that began to build up for thousands of years of slumber, and Samael then let out a murderous roar as he realized that now that he was free, he could slay his enemies for their treachery.

[marina]

Mari closed the book and put it back on the shelf. Her nerves shot as she trembled and she realized what she had accidentally read aloud. With Cerberus gone and Tera out taking care of business she really did not know what to do. She already was an outsider from her village having been wiped out by Samael's guards. If he did wake, and she was pretty sure he had, he'd be coming here soon.

She had to prepare, walking over to the open sign she turned it to closed and proceeded to make a space that the emperor would at least recognize. She formed a circle with some of the chairs that Cerebrus had in the back rooms and made sure that the pillows and cushions were comfortable. Digging in the back she pulled out a rug and placed it in the middle before going and brewing some Turkish coffee. It helped that she had spent a good number of years studying coffee and tea rituals.

She set the china cups out and waited quietly in her chair. She knew when he got to London it would be time to brew the coffee. It was really the only thing she could think to do. Her life had just taken a turn and not in a good way. She massaged her temples and bit her lip praying inwardly that he wouldn't hurt anyone while he was on his way here.

[Samael Draconlur]

Like a newborn child being birthed into the world, Samael felt the newness of this strange world that he arrived in. He felt the winter tundra around him that was the Antarctic, and with each step he took, his feet melted the ice. Samael felt the power of the energy that was needed to awaken him, and he felt the location pulling him somewhere far off. Shifting into his dragon form, his wings expanded from his back, and he quickly took flight towards the mysterious power source. The Emperor had questions about how he came to awaken now of all times, and who would want to wake him? The other dragons made it a point to never awaken Samael, no matter what the cost. Over countless landscapes, and oceans, the beast pursued the power source frantically. Never stopping. Never resting. It wasn't until he made it to the end of his journey that he could smell it. The scent of another Shang Dragon.

Samael unsheathed his sword, the dragon approached the small little bookshop in London, telekinetically pushing the door back as he shifted back to his human form. He looked everywhere for the one who awoken him, but could find nobody. But then he heard movement from the door near the register, and began to make his way down to what he believed was the dungeon.


The summoner was here, and soon, it all made too much sense. It was a Shang Dragon, who had awoken him? His mind began to ponder why one as pacifistic and pathetic as one of them would dare attempt to awaken him, but that was why he was here. He was still disoriented from waking up, but it was fading with every step he took. He looked around, quietly hoping to find his target. “Frana yna oui, Cryhk Tnykuh?” He asked in the ancient tongue of the Draconlurian Empire. "Fro tet oui fyga sa? Fryd ec ouin binbuca vun tuehk cu?"

[marina]

She knew he was close. It was like an invisable line tugging him closer to her as he moved. She made a point of taking her time to brew the strong coffee that he would recognize perhaps and maybe feel at least a little less alien in this world. She set the coffee down just as she heard him enter the shop. He was using the ancient tongue and she knew hiding would do no good. Trepidatiously she came into the open, her limp noticeable as she moved, "E ys rana, Esbaneym Syzacdo. So hysa ec Synehy. Vunkeja sa vun paehk cu esbandehahd yc du tyna yfygah oui vnus ouin cmispan. E tet hud ghuf dra puug dryd E fyc naytehk fyc dra uha dryd ramt oui." she approached him slowly and bowed as best she could before kneeling in front of him, genuflecting and staring at the ground until he gave her permission to rise.

When he did so she sat up, her rear resting on her legs gently and her hands open palms up and resting on her knees. Her head was bowed so she did not meet his gaze directly, showing that she remembered his status in the world and her own place in it. Her jewelery gleaming in the light as her dress covered her relatively modestly for the cut. "E naymewa E ys hud fundro uv ouin vunkejahacc, Syzacdo pid E dnimo sayhd hu ryns du oui."

[Samael Draconlur]

"Oui cruimt hud ryja yfugah sa..." He said, despite knowing that she did not mean to, but there was no excuse. Even Dragons had a phrase that resembled the one that went “curiosity killed the cat,” Theirs just simply stated that curiosity gets you killed. “Hu syddan, nakyntmacc. E ryja ynecah, yht ys nayto du nima ujan so Asbena uhla suna, pid drec bmyla ec...cu dannepmo tevvanahd.” As she knelt before him, he held out his hand and motioned for her to rise.

"Oui rispma sa, Cryhk Tnykuh." he spoke in the ancient tongue of the dragons, "Are you afraid of me?" Samael smiled to her softly as he spoke English for the first time, while looking at her with fierce, militaristic eyes. He telekinetically pulled a chair up behind her and motioned for her to sit. He wanted to examine the petite creature before him with his own, inspecting eyes. It was this child, who had raised him from his slumber and this child who feared him.


He finally took his own seat before looking around. Somehow, he knew exactly where he was. “Bel Ur would be the only person to be able to hold that book. Where is he?” He asked, demanding an answer. It was Bel Ur, that Cerberus used to call himself so long ago, when Samael met the Alpha. It was also the Alpha that bestowed the Emperor with militaristic knowledge, and introduced him to Scribes. Samael considered Cerberus and his pack as allies, and offered his assistance against any werewolf that defied their Alpha. But, normally Cerberus would have been here by now. Something that the dragon found odd. Bel Ur would have probably have been waiting with the young Shang Dragon. “Funny how he takes in the oddest company.” He said to Mari, noticing her position here at the bookshop.

[marina]

Rising with as much grace as she could muster Mari looked at the Emperor of Dragons with a touch of wariness in her gaze. Even after being locked away for more years than most could track he was probably faster than she was. She smoothed her skirt gently with one hand as she stood there quietly, her own dark eyes showing her attention was fully on the dragon in front of her.

"Your guards slaughtered my village while my mother was in labor with me. I think that alone would be reason to fear you, Your Majesty." she said quietly as she sat down with her legs crossed demurely at the ankles. "Let alone the fact that you may be a bit...irritated at being woken up." she admitted as she glanced over at the coffee that was waiting. "I took the liberty of preparing coffee. Would you like some?" she asked as she turned her gaze back to him.

"He had other matters to tend to that I am not privy to, your Majesty. I am certain he would be here if he could but it is not my place to question Bel Ur of his comings and goings." she shrugged her shoulders gently and ducked her head shyly at him calling her odd, "I have nowhere to go your majesty. My clan was destroyed and I am...considered unlucky to have survived the purge that ended my village." she truly didn't know of any dragons that would look well on her that were still in the U.K. so she had taken refuge with Cerberus and his pack in a mutually beneficial relationship. Her knowledge for their protection. She supposed she could have sought out Seriael but she didn't want to get caught up in fae politics and he made her uneasy.

[Samael Draconlur]

He gazed upon the Shang Dragon as she stood. She was so petite. So frail and disabled. Had she been born to the Draconlur Clan, the inspector of the infants would have discarded her immediately into the pit. It was such a burden on the mothers, but it was necessary for the Draconlur way of life of that time. There could be no room for weakness in the clan of fire. Only the strong could survive. Only the ruthless. “It was...nothing personal,” he told her nonchalantly, “but if my army attacked your village, it was because it was corrupted, as were many dragons of the four clans at the time, when my father ruled. Better the devil that you grew up knowing.”

As she offered him the steaming black drink, he looked over towards it and tilted his head to the side. “I have never heard of such beverage, but I will accept it.” He spoke solemnly, examining the Shang Dragon with curiosity. He doubted that she would have poisoned it, as Shang Dragons were typically the peaceful breed, but that did not mean that there were no such things as evil Shang Dragons. However, if it was her intention to poison him, then her attempt would have been in vain, as his body had grown immune to most poisons. However, he doubted such things, as Shangs were far more clever than just simply poisoning a beverage.

“Bel Ur. Always the patron saint of all creatures,” he said with a hollow chuckle, “do not mistake my statement of you being odd as offensive. It is simply no different than a pack of wolves taking in an infant human.” Samael accepted the hot drink, but the heat taking no effect against his bare skin. As he gulped down the drink that would have been scalding hot for anyone else, he looked at the cup and then back at the Shang Dragon, “This is an interesting brew, not like the mead halls of my days. You call this...coffee?” He handed her back the cup and said, “Another.”

[marina]

"I did not think it was personal. Had it been, I would not be here today as your guards would have hunted me till they killed me, Your Majesty." she folded her hands in front of her as she regarded him quietly, she never really missed what she never had and it had never occurred to her to fight against the Draconlur's over such a small thing as her non existent clan.

"It is a drink that the humans enjoy. I find its something they are quite social over. I thought it might be something you enjoy. The drink I made you is stronger than most humans prefer but being as you are of the clan of fire I would not insult you by giving you a weak drink." She stood as she waited to see if he liked the drink, ready to fetch another. "Are you hungry, Your Majesty? I do have some meat dishes that are similar to the ones the humans made when you still walked the earth. I find that most carnivores like lamb and wolves are no exception."

“Bel Ur was kind to me. He took me in a very long time ago.” Mari acknowledged with a bow of her head as she waited quietly, "He gave me a roof over my head and his pack have become a family to me of sorts." she felt a moment of loneliness but pushed it aside. Now was not the time for such.

Taking the cup in hand she poured him another cup and then passed it back, turning to the food that was offered with a questioning gaze in case he was hungry. lamb kabobs and saffron rice with peppers and other vegetables waited to be served. "Yes, your Majesty. Its something that is found everywhere now and even the poorest humans can afford it." she passed him his cup back and waited politely.

[Samael Draconlur]

“Revenge is a necessity amongst Draconlur kind,” he said, “Draconlurs never forgive and we never forget the hardships that are put upon us. It was my Empire's ability to exact revenge so well, that ultimately allowed us to rule so dominantly and become feared by our enemies.” Heritage and pride was an important thing to Draconlurs, and whether Samael knew his tribe or not, he would have avenged their deaths by killing every dragon involved. While he knew that it would probably instill the idea of killing him in her mind, Samael had no worry of such a thing.

Humans. Samael could not help but chuckle. “A human made this beverage? That is interesting.” he mused, “In my time, they were still running naked through the jungles, and hiding from everything like the scared, hairless apes that they are. Are you meaning to tell me that they somehow avoided wiping themselves out, and becoming the dominant life forms on this planet?” Not that it sickened him, but the thought that a bunch of creatures with no inherent power at all managed to become civilized. It was like dressing a gorilla and calling it civilized.

“If what you are telling me is true, then eating can wait,” he said sternly, “I have much work to be done if I am to reclaim my Empire and this world once more.” Samael looked around at the vast library of knowledge that Bel Ur owned. It had most definitely grown over the years. He must have grown into the habit of trade if he owned such an extensive library. If anyone would have knowledge on the events that transpired after his slumber, it would be here.

“I will start here, and work my way back to those that imprisoned me,” he declared, “and I will make trophies of their spines, after crush their skulls against rocks.” He looked to Mari and took the cup of the hot brew in his hand again. “Bring me every document, every book that tells of what happened to my Empire after I was placed into my slumber. I want to find all those that were involved and destroy them, so I can send the message to the rest of our kind that their Emperor rises again.”

[marina]

"While I understand it is the way to which your Clan is raised, your Majesty. It is not how I was raised. Killing you would not bring my village back from the dead and would not make me feel better about myself." she said softly as she looked up at him with wide eyes their normally dark depths going blue as she felt the rage radiating off him from his words. She laced her fingers together and stood before him quietly. one foot slightly behind the other as she peered up at his massive height.

"Humans have come a long way from cleaning body lice off each other for comfort and sustenance. While I would never presume to dictate to you, I humbly suggest that you with hold your judgement on them until you are better adapted to your environment your majesty?" she said this delicately like a whisper on the breeze, her head bowed as she spoke, knowing that the emperor was known for his temper.

"Well you could start studying right this moment but I doubt the knowledge you need to take over the world will just sink into your brain as if you were of the Shang clan, your majesty." there was a twinkle in her eye as she ladled out food for two, "There is an old medieval saying, "All sorrows are lessened with bread." it is still true for all that many think its just an entertaining quote. Besides it will take some time to locate every book you wish and indeed you probably would do well to find clothing and shelter before you plan to take over your kingdom. Nakedness is frowned upon in this day and age."

"Skull crushing against rocks, while effective is not the preferred method of attack now adays. Most people prefer other weapons besides their bare hands. If you wish to know your enemy you must adapt to the environment you are in. They have had several millennia to absorb what they know. You are a bit...behind." still she got up and started digging around the back, "I can get you several history books on this world and books that will help you understand the place you are living in but you must be patient." she did come back with some books as he asked but there were histories and economics as well as mathematics and science books on the cart that she pushed in front of her. Her body swayed gracefully as she moved. Her focus on her task as she pushed the cart to him.

[Samael Draconlur]

“Whether it brings back your village or not, it keeps the enemy from finishing the job.” Samael warned, crossing his arms and keeping a now-serious face at the Shang Dragon. The whole lot of them were philosophers, and politicians. But when it came to the basic instincts of survival, all of the knowledge in the world could not help them. Sometimes, one had to be cruel and cold hearted, if they ever felt as if they could win the battle. “In the end, young Shang Dragon, it is the survival of the fittest, and only the strong survive to see a new era.”

Samael listened to how carefully she cautioned herself on what she was going to say around him. Sugar, spice and everything nice about her. “I have seen quite a bit of what the humans are capable of on my arrival here,” he said, noticing their flying machines as he flew past, and their weaponry, some that Samael was familiar with, and others that were different, “despite they're no longer living in little mud huts, they still find the time to fight one another. Their animalistic instinct was something that I always was fond of, but even now, do you really think that they can challenge me? Tell me, Mari, what could they possibly have that could stand up to my adamant might?” If she did know of any humans who could challenge the Warrior-Emperor, he would be interested in hearing of them. They would be the first to give testament to Samael's raw power.

As the petite dragon laid out food once again, he took note to what she said, and looked around the immediate area. He knew that if Bel Ur was still living in this day and age, the Alpha's survival instincts never failing to amaze even Samael, then the Alpha would, of course, have clothing somewhere that the Alpha could use. However, before Samael went anywhere, he saw it. His battle armor, still preserved after all of these years. Samael walked over to it, and as he looked towards Mari. Touching the armor caused a sort of red hue to form between Samael and the armor. Within moments, the armor seemingly bonded to the Dragon instantaneously. Samael looked towards Mari with a confident gaze. “This will have to do for the time being.” he stated quietly, now fully clothed. The armor itself was a gift from a powerful witch from long ago, who was thankful to Samael for saving his village from a rogue band of Fire Dragons, still loyal to Nergal, even after the fallen Emperor's death at the hands of Samael. It was created to only bond to Samael only. It was no surprise though, that Bel Ur would have acquired the artifact.

He could not help but chuckle at her for declaring him a bit behind the rest. “From the looks of what I saw when I was approaching this building, it does not seem that I am that far behind at all. Perhaps I should have stayed in my slumber if my enemies wanted an advantage, and that one alone is still slim.” Samael looked upon the books, and then at the food. This dragon's persistence was rather annoying to the Emperor, sensing that she would probably try to do what she could to keep him there, rather than out there, reclaiming his Empire, but rather than eradicate the person who awoke him, he would at least humor her. “Patience is not a virtue amongst a person who takes what he wants, and what I want is to reclaim those that are still loyal to me, and take this world back. However, a Shang Dragon is good with calculations, so I will humor you. But trust me when I say that the world of dragons will be mine again.”

[marina]

"That is true, your majesty but I have survived so far and unless you have a desire to kill me I think I'll survive a little while longer." she said a bit dryly as she moved to fetch the food. Even if he wasn't hungry she was and she was going to keep herself fed before she risked snapping at him for his cockiness.

"They have explosives that could melt the bedrock of this island and cause a path of destruction that makes your kingdom look like boys playing with sticks. They have the ability to create weapons that can make your lungs spasm, and fill with blood causing you to drown in your own body fluids. They have the ability to deliver toxins that will make you gouge out your own eyes for what you see and beg for mercy. They have the ability to slaughter their own kind simply for their religion and claim its for the betterment of all. They have been known to run over babies with trucks, rape women because they look pretty and claim it was all because their leaders told them to when in reality it was their own depravity that brought them to it. THAT is why dragons hide in their human seemings now your majesty. The fear that if humans knew what we were they would hunt us down, peel back our hides, probe our brains and breed us to each other like cattle all in the name of science and their perceived idea of superiority. Even now there are hunters that would shoot you as soon as look at you. Who would spatter your brains all over the concrete just for breathing. I may be a pacifist but at least I know my limits and what my body can and cannot do. I was not built to be a warrior on par with yourself. I know how to defend myself but I do not go looking for fights I can't win. And you would do well to remember that the world you knew left you behind." she turned her back on him to make certain the plate of food had everything before passing it to him gently.

"Well if you want to wear that its no difference to me. You're the one who gets cold easily not me." she commented lightly as she looked at his fancy metal armor, "I think you would be better served going through some of the spare clothing Bel Ur has for his guests. You're welcome to stay here of course but I would recommend that apart from studying you come home with me to rest, bathe and learn of this new world you find yourself in."

"I do not doubt your ability to retake your kingdom, Your Majesty. I just think you should study your environment BEFORE you launch into a full scale assault. Always fight from a position of strength. If your enemy is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. If your opponent is temperamental, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. If sovereign and subject are in accord, put division between them. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected." she said quietly as she quoted Sun Tzu's Art of War from where she stood as she passed him a plate of food.

[Samael Draconlur]

“Why would I kill my liberator?” He asked with a grin on his face, “When my Empire rises again, it will be your song that they shall sing in the halls of my glory for eternity, as it was you who will make all of this possible.” Shang Dragons were normally not quick to anger, but this one had spunk. Samael would have fun breaking her in.

Samael's face turned serious as she tried to turn hot on him by explaining the power that the humans had acquired. He did not feel threatened by what she said, nor offended by what she said. In all truth, he was unfazed by what she said. One did not rule over nearly the entire world at one time, and allow words to hurt him. However, he did make it a point to face her, standing mere inches from her, “Even my enemies spoke to me with a level of respect,” he spoke in a threatening-laced voice, “perhaps you would do well to do the same, and learn to hold your tongue before me, lest you wake up the next morning to find it removed.” His final threat was no more blank than it was him trying to intimidate her. “Whatever the humans wish to throw at me, they are more than welcome to do, but if their sense of self-preservation is still ever-so slightly greater than their sense of self-destruction, then I do not think I have to worry about even three quarters of what you just mentioned." Samael knew the ability of knowledge absorption that the Shang Dragons were gifted with, and despite his hunch that she already got the full visual of his capabilities when he ruled so long ago, it was time for her to get a more, in-detail of his tactics. Tactics that unbeknownst to Samael, were inevitably discovered by humans, who managed to utilize portions of them, and still use them to this day. The only thing was, today's humans have no idea that it was a dragon that they got their tactics from. If the Emperor knew this, he would be amused.

As Samael took his hand away from her head, he decided otherwise, that perhaps overloading the little Dragon was probably not in her best interest.

“I may burn hot, Shang Dragon, but remember who it was who laid siege to countless Shang Dragon settlements, facing your harsh, tundras and returning home upon conquering each of them. There was a reason that your kind helped in imprisoning me.” As she offered a shelter for the Emperor, he nodded slowly in accepting her proposal, “As you wish, but I will soon set out to find my own home. A place to begin my own establishment in this world.”

As the Dragon listened to Mari's statement on enemy tactics, he smiled softly. She knew a thing or two about battle, despite her kind's pacifistic nature. “Wise words young Dragon,” he said amusingly, “perhaps there is a warrior within you after all. Perhaps I may be right to make you my scribe and viser when I retake this world.” He then picked up a lamb kabob and took a bite off of it, savoring to meal.

[marina]

"I was not seeking songs of glory. It was an accident. I realize it may not be as you see it but its the honest truth of it. I would not presume anything grander, Your Majesty." she folded her hands in front of her and sighed softly, "This is beyond my ken."

"I am not trying to be impertinent I am simply warning you of what you are going to have to face. I'm not trying to intimidate you merely state the facts as I see them. Humans should never be underestimated your majesty. How good an adviser would I be if I did not steer you clear of a dangerous path. Besides what good would irritating you do?" she did step back quietly and bowed her head respectfully but she still spoke her mind. She didn't want to be accused of lying later. "With all do respect your majesty you must understand that not every disagreement is a challenge to your authority. Its simply a different opinion." she sighed as she massaged her temples and looked over at him. He'd hurt her feelings by reminding her of his murder of her kind.

She nodded and turned back to the food. Her form lithe and small as she settled the lids of food before taking her own plate and sitting down, "We can depart for my home when it pleases you, Your Majesty." she nodded softly. If she was frightened she did her best to hide it behind her meal. Her eyes going to her food, not wishing to anger him further.

She looked up at him and murmured softly, "That is your decision. I don't have control over such grand things as that." she was feeling less than useful at the moment if truth be told. She wondered when it would get out that she'd unleashed Samael on the world and how many beings were going to kill her for it. She ate her meal quietly and delicately.