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Post by cassiusexgladio on May 28, 2017 18:37:44 GMT
They attracted a few looks - mostly directed at Leonid and his distinctly northern shamanist garb. People left them alone, however. Shortly after they had taken their seats, the innkeeper returned, with bowls of hot soup, bread, and two foaming beers. "I can dry your cloaks for you, if you so wish."
The soldiers, for the most part, kept to themselves. Their armor, which they had peeled off and placed by the brazier, carried the mark of the Duke.
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Post by Poopmok on May 28, 2017 18:43:14 GMT
"Yes, that would be ideal," he replied back, taking off the wolf skin that he used as a cloak, letting her dry it off. Just being in a hearth-warmed room did wonders for him, but this was much better.
After he ate and drank his fill of the food, he made his way over to the soldiers, knowing that nobody was in the mood for a fight after being in that sort of weather all day.
He approached whoever he assumed was the leader, probably the oldest, and spoke to him in a calm tone. "Greetings, soldier. I assume you have you come here to take care of the beast attacks?" Nobody had time for simple pleasantries, and if the soldiers had no idea about the attacks, it would make the situation even more strange.
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Post by Nyanunix on May 28, 2017 18:59:54 GMT
Orison, also having given the innkeeper her cloak to dry and having eaten, though she refused alcohol, followed Leo to the soldiers. He could have said it better; he could have greeted them and mentioned the peasants and their attack and then asked if they were on their way to do something about it. But he didn't.
So Orison slipped over to a pair of the younger looking men. She introduced herself and quietly made light of Leo's strangeness, and how he was not from around these parts and things. Eventually, she got around to mentioning the peasants they had met on the road, and how one of their women had said that the soldiers in their town had left. As she concluded this, Orison made sure to mention that she was oh so sure that none of the duke's soldiers would ever simply abandon their post, and that the peasant woman must have been wrong, because they were all ever so strong and brave. Flattery never hurt.
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Post by cassiusexgladio on May 28, 2017 19:08:22 GMT
"Yes, that would be ideal," he replied back, taking off the wolf skin that he used as a cloak, letting her dry it off. Just being in a hearth-warmed room did wonders for him, but this was much better. After he ate and drank his fill of the food, he made his way over to the soldiers, knowing that nobody was in the mood for a fight after being in that sort of weather all day. He approached whoever he assumed was the leader, probably the oldest, and spoke to him in a calm tone. "Greetings, soldier. I assume you have you come here to take care of the beast attacks?" Nobody had time for simple pleasantries, and if the soldiers had no idea about the attacks, it would make the situation even more strange. "You assume much" the soldier replied. He had sandy brown hair and skin the color of sandstone. Dark, intelligent eyes narrowed as their owner assessed Leonid. "I am Captain Bry Caerhelm of the 22nd Imperial Foot, stationed in Arnavale. Tell me your, name, northerner, and why you are so interested in our doings." His tone was cordial, for now.
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Post by cassiusexgladio on May 28, 2017 19:19:51 GMT
Orison, also having given the innkeeper her cloak to dry and having eaten, though she refused alcohol, followed Leo to the soldiers. He could have said it better; he could have greeted them and mentioned the peasants and their attack and then asked if they were on their way to do something about it. But he didn't. So Orison slipped over to a pair of the younger looking men. She introduced herself and quietly made light of Leo's strangeness, and how he was not from around these parts and things. Eventually, she got around to mentioning the peasants they had met on the road, and how one of their women had said that the soldiers in their town had left. As she concluded this, Orison made sure to mention that she was oh so sure that none of the duke's soldiers would ever simply abandon their post, and that the peasant woman must have been wrong, because they were all ever so strong and brave. Flattery never hurt. "The town you speak of was probably Oakvale." one of the soldiers replied. "We were part o' the group sent to investigate. Not a single hair o' hide of the garrison did we find." "We found their armor and weapons." another added. "All neatly stacked as if for inspection. Row by row in a field." "Aye, 50 men can't just disappear into nowhere." the other replied. "I doubt they deserted. They were of 22nd, same as us, and they wouldn't have betrayed our oath. Nay, something else had to have happened. Something odd." The soldier trailed off and left it at that.
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Post by Poopmok on May 28, 2017 19:23:34 GMT
"I am Leonid, and I come here to get rid of the beast tribes terrorizing this area. Orders come straight from the Ruler, in fact." The man seemed to be agreeable, for now, at least.
"We met peasants down the road, their whole village was destroyed by these beasts, and I was able to divine that the forest beasts are the ones responsible for this. Sound familiar?" If these really were the deserters, or whatever they were, he certainly would not show any kindness.
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Post by Nyanunix on May 28, 2017 19:24:18 GMT
Orison considered that. "Plenty of odd things go on," she finally said. "It was so sad to hear about it. Their entire town was destroyed; I believe they said around a hundred people dead. I knew that those soldiers must not have simply deserted."
With that, she went back over to Leo to listen to what he was doing. It was very tempting to break into the conversation to apologize for his rudeness, but he was not her problem to apologize for.
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Post by cassiusexgladio on May 28, 2017 19:36:33 GMT
"I am Leonid, and I come here to get rid of the beast tribes terrorizing this area. Orders come straight from the Ruler, in fact." The man seemed to be agreeable, for now, at least. "We met peasants down the road, their whole village was destroyed by these beasts, and I was able to divine that the forest beasts are the ones responsible for this. Sound familiar?" If these really were the deserters, or whatever they were, he certainly would not show any kindness. The Captain sighed. "You a bounty hunter of some kind?" he raised a hand. "It doesn't matter." "Aye, there have been a host of attacks of late. Monsters from the deep woods. They've always been there, but before they'd mostly fight each other. We'd only get the dregs that emerged and a dozen men on horseback with could deal with them. Now, though...they've been emerging in greater and greater numbers. "
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Post by cassiusexgladio on May 28, 2017 19:38:01 GMT
The Captain glanced at Orison as she approached. "You a bounty hunter too?"
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Post by Poopmok on May 28, 2017 20:04:35 GMT
"It's because they're getting organized. One of the beasts has managed to unite the forest tribes, and I didn't even know such a thing was possible until now. As you know, they've started attacking settlements, and they've been extremely successful. Whoever is ruling them, they're certainly no ordinary beast."
Extremely powerful beasts existed in the North, so powerful that some of the tribes in the interior even worshipped them. He doubted that such a beast was here, but whatever it was, it possessed an uncanny intelligence, something highly unusual for the forest tribes.
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Post by Nyanunix on May 28, 2017 20:20:58 GMT
Orison's grin was dangerous. "I could be called that," she told to soldier. It did not occur to her how different she was with her companions compared to how she treated absolute strangers, but if it had, it would not have phased her at all. Strangers understood that her past was to be left alone.
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Post by cassiusexgladio on May 28, 2017 21:14:38 GMT
The Captain nodded. "Aye, no ordinary beast. Some of the peasants claim to have caught sign of it. It's reportedly large, over 8 feet tall, and has two great red horns." He laughed. "They'll soon be decoratin' the castle once we get it. Big brute or no, a dozen crossbow bolts to the face will put it down like any other monster."
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Post by Poopmok on May 28, 2017 22:36:41 GMT
"You're right, of course. In fact, this inn right here would be a prime target for them if it weren't for our presence. If I were you, I'd keep this place guarded in case of any attacks."
Leonid didn't have much to say to the soldier, he seemed to be in charge and only further confirmed the story about the beast. From what it sounded like, the Duke was their last stop, and if he couldn't point them in the right direction, they'd have to explore the forests themselves, and the thought chilled even him.
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Post by Nyanunix on May 28, 2017 23:52:40 GMT
The pair left the soldiers alone after getting the information they needed, and returned to their seats. It was small table against a wall, made for two or three people. Orison had eventually accepted some mead, which she sipped quietly; her eyes wandered the crowd as if she were looking for someone.
She tried not to be obvious about her looking, but she also was not trying to hide it, exactly.
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Post by Poopmok on May 28, 2017 23:55:13 GMT
Leo drank some mead, in an attempt to warm himself up after being out all day long. He didn't bother looking around the inn, instead focusing on his drink, and once he was finished with that...
"Hey, you know you're gonna have to talk about your past one day, right?"
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