Of dragons and skunks - RPLOG
Participants
Date
7/5/479
Log
The two royal guards are waiting for the freeswords at the foot of some hills, a female leopard and a male magpie. They are clad in matching uniforms with navy blue pants and coats, as well as steel chestplates and gauntlets, the only difference is that the avian has a hood pulled over his head. They are sitting around a fire and seem to be talking to each other.
William makes his way toward the guards, leisurely strolling up before pulling back his own hood, giving each guard a nod. He raises a hand in greeting, the other resting on his cane as he lets out a sigh. "Hello," he says, flicking his soul gem to indicate his freesword-ness before waiting for the arrival of the others.
Lyas saunters up to the guards, hands tucked into his pockets. His casual demeanor is offset by the obviously businesslike equipment he is carrying: a well cared-for sword, a new leather jacket, and a notched but high-quality knife. Odds and ends are stored in a pouch on his belt.
The cat tilts his head towards the guards, tail waving slightly in anticipation. "Got a job you can't handle yourselves?" he teases, addressing the guards with a wicked grin. William's presence attracts no more than a flick of his ear. A flick that nevertheless manages to convey a significant degree of disgust.
zez walks up with an enerjetic bounce to his step, and intraduses him self with a solid and resonding "hi"
A large rabbit walks up to the guards, shield on his arm, helmet on his head. He slings the shield onto his back before drawing off his helmet. Crux offers a friend smile and nod to the others, then looks to the guards. "I understand you guys are looking for some help?" He holds up the gemmed guantlet on his hand and clenches a fist. "I'm more than happy to lend a hand to a member of the Blackback family."
Thelergramor is around, lazily making his way up to the guards waiting around for them. The Fox is all concealed and such, with his masked hood and sandcat-hide clothing. Armed with more than enough weapons today, probably. Also in basilisk form, the only indication of such being the greenscaled lizard tail hanging behind him. He doesn't say anything for now, letting the others do the questioning.
Robin approaches the flames of the fire and the group, eyes wandering over to the multiple figures that had already arrived. "Well isin't this a great little turn out," he chuckles, standing off a few paces from the large bunny, eyes glancing between the leopard and magpie.
Hartford is already here, dressed in his Blackback regalia and pacing agitatedly back and forth. "I don't know how this could happen!" the skunk striped, blue reindeer moans, "I was only gone for a minute! We have to get her back!" The big lug looks hopefully around at the gathering freeswords, but is disappointed. "I. . . I was sort of hoping for some more experienced Freeswords," he says, "I don't know any of you."
The leopard gives a nod to the arriving party, but stays seated. The magpie however gets up and talks, addressing Hartford first. "Well there are plenty of them, so there is that." He turns to the arriving mercenaries. "Its good that you all have come, the situation is indeed dire. Whatever this dragon people reported is, they have reported seeing it take to a ruined keep not far east from here. It is really more a tower with some walls by now, but we suspect the Lady to be there."
William glances back at Lyas and grinds his teeth for a moment, before turning to face the guardsmen again. "William," he says, lifting a hand up in greeting to Hartford before setting both down on his cane. "Well then. Anything to know before we get moving?" He looks around to the rest of his crew, staring at Lyas for a few long moments. "A pleasure to see you here too. I only wish our elephant friend was joining us."
Lyas raises his eyebrows at Hartford. "Who were you expecting, Angus Solacious? Got to give the newer folk a go sometime...." He nods along to the guards' explanation, though the twisted look on his face clearly indicates he finds the story bizarre. "Best get goin' and see what happens," he grins cavalierly, not bothering with further questions. As far as he's concerned anything that needs explaining should explain itself, in time.
He tries to avoid William's eye, but it's hard to ignore being addressed directly. "An absolute pleasure!" he agrees heartily, sarcasm lying close beneath the surface of his words. "Pity about the elephant, yeah. Could go for another sand-bath just now."
Zez looks between Lyas and William a few times before shaking his head and stepping forward. "Hey. I am new to this, but always happy to lend a hand. What can i do to help?" he says.
Crux puts back on his helmet before slinging the shield and spear off his back. "Well, if we know where she might be then we shouldn't keep the lady waiting, should we? Would be most ungentleman like conduct!" He grips at his spear and turns, finding a familiar face near by. He gently taps at Robin with his tower shield and nods. "Don't be afraid to use my large behind for cover if you need. Don't need anyone getting hurt here."
Thelergramor idly checks over his weapons, crossbow, dagger, sword-rapier... Garrote wire he never gets to use... "Dragons haven't been able to kill me before, I-er, we'll- get your Lady back." The basilisk hopes she's pretty, at least. "Shouldn't be difficult."
Robin looks to the two felines, an amused chuckle escaping his mouth, though his attentions go to Crux with a grin upon his features. "I feel safer already," he says. With rapt attention he listens to the magpie, eyes lighting up as they describe the situation. Ruined keep? What things could probably lie within there? Gold perhaps?! With a simple bow slung across his back, the mouse says with excitement, "Well i'm sure we should be able to handle it!"
Hartford looks only slightly abashed at the comment about Angus. "Well, yeah," he says, "Or Miss Cassidy or maybe Mister Fenris. But I'll take what we can get! Let's go!" The heavily armored reindeer heads off impatiently, then hesitates. "Or was it this way?" He turns desperately to the two royal guards. "Maybe you oughtta lead?"
The magpie nods. "Was about to say that we should head out, its not too far from here. If you squint over the hills there you can see the tip of the tower." He eyes the assorted bunch of mercenaries. "And leave the talking to us, if there is any talking at all. I assume you all know how to respect and follow orders." It is clear that this is a statement and not a question by the tone of his voice. The leopard jumps up and picks up her twin swords from the ground and the group heads for the tower. Its an uneventful trip, but it takes nearly an hour thanks to the terrain. They stop about 200 meters from the keep. It is as the bird said, mostly just a tower and some walls, most of which have crumbled by now.
William nods in agreement with Lyas. "Let's stay professional," he advises, before setting off after the guards. Odds are he slows the trip a bit, with his pace, but he does his best to keep up despite any pain it may cause him.
