Isle of the Seven Apes

Viscious Rumors Scene I

The clouds would hang overcast above the flourishing fields to the south of Monkeplex. The city of Monkeplex lay on the southern coast of the northern Elder Isle which de-facto fell under the jurisdiction of the Green Banana Kingdom but due to the nature of the Council halls, it falls under a special exclusion zone immune from exterior influence. The exterior of the giant halls was buzzing with apes, all of these apes trying to catch glimpses of the representatives as they entered to fulfill their duties. Some interested in perhaps catching an interview or autograph while some others were there in protest against the members that were there. On the inside though, it remained rather tranquil as the processions for the day had not begun yet. Representatives went over their speeches and agendas while others shattered as they waited for the rest of the representatives to make their appearances.

The Orangutan, Chimpanzee and Macaque tribes would create the bulk of the Council’s members due to their large population and regional influences that they had. As for the remaining members, they gained representation due to the size of their species, requiring a thorough investigation from the council along with a prespecified species threshold which varies over time to gain representation on the council. Over the course of a few hours the room would be filled up with various apes of all nationalities with the exception of a single Chimpanzee. The room would be filled with indistinct chatter and arguments from the different representatives, many having different opinions and wanting a ‘religious war’, others not caring since they would not engage in a war and the final group wanting peace.

The council halls were truly a decadent place to be, sitting at the base of the large tree that made up the bulk of the city of Monkeplex, it was constructed in a large romanesque manner and covered a large space of land. It was seen as the olive branch that held the isles together by letting the powers meet together in a controlled manner. The halls interior contained many different rooms for many different purposes, such as a secret library of most of the known knowledge of the isles or the halls of elders where there are paintings and busts of every council member ot have ever served lining the walls that connect the meeting chambers to the rest of the buildings halls.

The talking would stop as Lamont would come to the stand in the center of the room. The incumbent High Elder looked about the room ensuring that all the representatives were there before speaking. Lamont would glance around the room accounting for all the representatives that he had known to be a part of the council before preceding.

The High Elder was an orangutan, one of average stature (170 centimeters in height), long slightly curled flowing brown fur on a somewhat ample frame sitting cross legged atop a small cushion. His face was old and rounded by some very large flanges denoting his good self care, some small wrinkles and gray hair around his mouth would show his age. He wore a simple purple trimmed gray cloak, a pair of glasses with a bamboo hat he had removed and placed on the floor behind him.

“Thank you all for attending, I welcome you all to the meeting of the Elder Council. We do not have much on our agenda besides the relatively normal things so if King Sombex would please take the stand.” Lamont would back down away from the center stand and find a seat whilst looking over a few of the scrolls that outlined this meeting.

As he did, Gibbon King Sombex would rise and walk his way around making himself seen to the rest of the halls and begin his ‘speech’. “Good evening, all. I know you have heard my plea for an intercession for a stop to what goes on at the isthmus that makes up the Chimp-Gibbon border. I stand here again for an end to the insurgency that occurs in this isthmus. Many soldiers are being slaughtered daily by these beasts at the border. I have tried time and time again but each time these skilled warbeasts continue their assault against both the armies and the citizens of the Gibbon Kingdom. I ask once for assistance.”

King Sombex was a small yet imposing figure, having the standard long arms of a gibbon, he had white-cream fur with small tufts of black around his face. At the ends of his long arms were long and thin fingers which he flipped through rather frivolously. He was still youthful, being hundreds of years younger than some of the representatives at the meeting. This youth showed in his clothing style, which was much more illustrious than many of the others with a half teal and half lime colored robes that split down the middle.

The halls surrounding him would give uninterested looks once more as neither they wanted to begin a war or risk the lives of their armies. As they did, President Johnson of the Chimps would speak up from the group. “Sire, I appreciate your interest in curbing the situation in the Isthmus. I have done all I can for quite some time but the apes in this region are insurgents and rebels. The arma’tai has had no luck thus far attempting to stop. The region is very dangerous and these insurgents are very versed in the terrain of the region.”

In his years, Johnson was a grizzled old Chimp. His face was rough, the hair around his head more silver than it was black with only small spots around the top of his head remained his original color. On his face, his age really wore on him being wrinkled and having a few small visible scars yet he still held a kindly charm to his smile. Rather out of place, he wore a moss green on red suit.

“All I’m hearing is that there is nothing being done.” Sombex would spout. “There are more than enough forces that are capable of taking out those insurgents. I saw your armies march on our cities during the hundred years war.”

“Your majesty, please calm yourself. The hundred years war ended more than twenty years ago, and might I add it was I who stopped this. The rest of the high courts were more than happy to keep it going. Waris not a path that the Chimp can truly survive on and I’ve done my best to stop this. You are only making a fool of yourself, Sombex.” Johnson retorted.

.”Keep telling yourself that, the council eats it up every single time-” Sombex would be cut off by Lamont placing his hand on his shoulder.

“Sombex, that is enough. Please find your seat so that we may continue.” Lamont would speak rather softly.

Sombex would trail off back to his seat, muttering some things that would best not be repeated as he went. “Now, representative Luther has something to say to the council,” Lamont would return to his seat behind the stand and let Luther take the stand.

Luther was a Capuchin with a deep ivory colored head and upper body with a hazel lower body. He carried himself with the vigor of youth but he was in his early seventies by this time (Rather young for the Elder Council). He dressed very simply, reflecting his personality. He wore a simple teal cloak with a cape of white clasped with a mango atop a banana (A common symbol of the Orthodox Safshuists of Cape Capuchin.)

“Thank you all for attending gentle monkes, now today I have something of grave importance. I apologize for those of you who thought tonight would be a much more simple meeting. Now, these are rumors but rumors that should be taken almost as if they are real. Throughout the Great Banana Forest, rumors have been spreading about the return of the Dark Lord LeBow. Nobody knows why nor how he has returned but this is much more than the typical rumors that flurry among the odd folk of the forests. I believe that this should be given the attention of the council, this being why I have brought it here to you all.”

“That's a horribly preposterous claim. LeBow has been dead for some three thousand years now.” Randi, a young and boastful orangutan, would yell from a few rows back.

“Yes, I’m well aware of that but we can’t simply forgo something that even containing an iota of truth could be disastrous for the isles.” Luther replied.

“This is true,” Lamont would nod. “There must be some present response from us as a council if we wish to meet this problem head on.”

“Precisely, my friend.” Luther would reply. “I would like all of you to know that I intend on hosting a defense summit in Calou’s Rest. All of you are invited to attend but this is meant to be a particularly regional affair. Here I will discuss more of my plans regarding these vile words.”

Luther would adjust his stack of papers at the speaking stand and continue. “Information is still sparse, but I cannot stress enough that this is not something we can let slip through our fingers. I learned of the c*****e of LeBow during my youth and it has stuck to me ever since. Tales of brutality like no other in history, many of which were thought to be fabricated because of how horrid they were. I don’t want history to be repeated in the modern period which is why I bring this here to you all. Take what you will for now, the next time we meet will be under far worse pretenses. I can assure you all of such.”

Luther would turn and walk briskly, the wind carrying his robes which nearly floated above the ground behind him as he went. Some council members shared looks at one another in a form of disbelief whilst others talked quietly .

Lamont would take the stand as the mediator and adjust his small glasses, surveying over his own notes that he had prepared for the meeting.

“Well,” he said crisply. “It seems that we have covered everything that was on the agenda for this evening. I apologize for the briefness of such a meeting but such has been the course of events for quite some time now.

With a swift hit of the gavel against the stand, the representatives would rise and begin making their way out of the chambers.

Lamont would approach Luther after the meeting who happened to be chatting with the King Warybar of the Yeti’s. The two were having a soft and somber conversation, Luther listened intently but seemed to struggle to understand the Yeti’s thick accent.

The Yeti was very tall, 220 centimeters and towered above Luther. He wore a cape made from the pelt of a polar bear, and armor made from the sacred scales of a long dead dragon that marked his royal lineage. His fur was white, all around his body, likewise was his skin which was only the slightest bit darker. With such a hostile appearance, it would be quite a surprise to meet such a kind and befitted Ape.

“Excuse me, gentlemonkes.” Lamont would interject. “I have a question for you, brother Luther. Particularly regarding what you said about LeBow.”

“Ask freely, wise friend.” Luther would respond.

“Though I doubt the authenticity of what you presented, I am curious as to how one procured this information. This does not seem like something that would really make its way out of perhaps a small group of apes, does it not?”

“Ah, Eastern Chimp sailors. They come through ports on Cape Capuchin quite regularly, they carry very odd tales mostly, but a royal guard who happened to be visiting the bazaar outside the docks overheard the conversation.”

“So this was only heard once?” Lamont inquired. Warybar seemed to listen intently but understood little of what the pair talked about.

“Quite the contrary in fact,” Luther mouthed. “This was the first instance of the rumor, but as the weeks passed a few guards and salesmonkes from the bazaar heard similar stories concerning both dark ape activity or something about LeBow. These all were seen by villages and must have been passed for quite some time. But if there is even an iota of truth to these rumors, LeBow or not, it is very worrying to have Dark Ape activity outside of their region.”

“Mmmmm, now I understand where you’re coming from. Thank you for answering my question, Brother. Safe travels back home.”

“Godspeed.” Luther would say as he bowed.

Another few minutes would pass and the council members would clear out from the halls, meaning it was time for Lamont to leave. He would extinguish all the candles around the chamber and ensure everything was tidy before walking into the chilled Monkeplex evening. It was winter, yet no snow had fallen in the southern Elder Isles yet making for a much more pleasant hike back home.

Lamont would begin to ascend Prime Mountain, a task that may sound daunting but would be rather easy for Lamont. He was familiar with the mountain and its magical properties. As he ascended, he found shortcuts to reach his home further. As he ascended, the temperature would also rise, a property associated with the deep spiritual nature of the mountain.

It would only take shortly over an hour before Lamont could see his house behind the early moonlit light. It was a simple home, one story in height and made from logs that he had harvested himself. Outside the home, there would be a very well kept garden as it was his main passtime when not dealing with the council.

As he approached the home, he decided to climb an overhang of vine to the left side of his door. Reaching the top, he would sit down and watch the moon rise from the east. This view overlooked the ocean which, unlike many of the other cities in the isles, was uncluttered as there was no major port located in Monkeplex.

He would admire the view and ponder somberly. He was tired and could soon feel the embracing grip of sleep falling over him when he would be awoken by noise coming from behind him.

Startled, he would jump and turn around to meet a familiar yet out of the ordinary sight, The Heron. Now, Lamont and The Heron were very good friends, yet only saw one another on rare and typically important occasions. Nobody for certain knows where The Heron comes from, nor how he has such an ability to talk (As it is one of the few single creatures known to be able to talk besides that of Monkes and Dragons.). But the Heron spent his days journeying the isles and carrying messages when needed as he could make journeys far faster than many apes could.

The Heron stood with his neck extended and wore a well fitted straw hat on his head. An orange beak would have a thick pinstripe of black peeling backward around his head as he looked at Lamont. Behind his head, a long black feather drew down into a slight curl.

“To what do I owe the pleasure?” Lamont would ask as he grinned heartily.

“A message to be delivered I have.” The Heron would croak. “A monk of the Safishna Order in Solus has sent for you. He is named Greford, not much of him I know, but he is rather important. He wishes to speak to you face to face regarding a problem that was not shared.”

“A problem? Could he mean the rumors of LeBow that have been circulating through the isles?”

“Brother Darnelious was rather secretive about the whole affair. But I am sure I would only be needed to carry an important message.”

“Ah, I understand then. Thank you for delivering this to me, I will depart when I rise tomorrow.”

“The Isles are getting ready for quite a change once more, Lamont. You should know this for certain though. I know you will pass your best judgment on whatever situation that is incurred by this meeting.”

“I’ve been beginning to see it myself, wise Heron. No matter what, Earl's legacy is carried on through me and yet I feel I could never have prepared enough for it.”

“Lamont, you carry the burden of millions of lives on your shoulders. There is no preparation for what you have undertaken, you must draw from your years of experience and apply it to the present. Keep your head held high.”

“Thank you.” Lamont would draw silent as he finished speaking and adjusted his bamboo hat. “It’s getting late, especially if I wish to depart early tomorrow. I must be getting some rest now.”

The Heron would bob his head at Lamonts words. “As should I, I must arrive in Wootree city before tomorrow evening.”

“That is quite a flight.” Lamont would laugh heartily. “May Safashus' blessing sign down upon you.”

The Heron would briskly move past Lamont and jump off the roof, opening his wings and flying into the moonlight. Lamont would watch him for a few minutes before climbing back to the front of his home and entering for the night.

Morning would come briskly, and Lamont would rise. He would rise and light a fire for his morning cup of tea, this morning would be eastloom. He would sit and watch the stirring tall grass outside his home while enjoying the tea. He would finish it and get ready for his final departure. He would dawn the same cloak and hat as before but this time carry his staff with him as he knew it would be a long walk.

He would leave his home and make a swift departure down the mountain. The air at the foot of the mountain was noticeably cooler than where Lamont situated himself at. To get to the nearest major port (Arkala) Lamont would need to spend most of his day traveling by charter of a carriage. This would eat up most of the money he had brought with him for the journey through the Elder Isles.

It was late afternoon when he would enter into the harbor of Arkala, most sailors were either gone or fixing to leave par one. Lamont would approach the ape who had the look of an Orangutan but was much taller than he was.

“I’ll beg your pardon, but is there anybody here who happens to be headed to the east?” Lamont would ask.

“Well, where are you fixing to go, stranger?” The tall Ape would respond.

“Solus, though I am well aware it is an inland city. Passage to Celestia would do very well.”

“I suppose I could take you, I have a little better to do.”

Lamont would rummage through his bag and hand a rather meager amount of bananas to the ape. “I can get you much more money once we arrive there, wealth is not befitting to me now.”

“No need.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I am. It would be within my interests to help a stranger, besides sailing is one of my joys. We must be departing though, we can catch the current through the Scattered Isles if we depart before nightfall.”

“Thank you very much, might I ask you a name?”

“Simion.”