----------------------------------------------
OUTSKIRTS OF RESPITE - APPROACHING THE NORTHERN GATE - AFTERNOON
----------------------------------------------
Fiora sits in the enclosed wagon carriage, a slightly cramped affair that somehow feels hotter then the open air outside, a purchase she regretted after the first day of travel, but she's never one to complain. She's in her full plate, her helmet resting on the seat next to her, and her thoughts miles away to the south, and the important business she'd left for Respite to deal with keeping her usually chatty self rather unusually thoughtful and quiet.
Gareth sits opposite of Fiora, dressed a fair bit more comfortably in his usual travel wear. He still pants a bit, though, as his thick fur more than makes up for the lighter clothing when it comes to trapping heat. He shoots a glance across the way, and lightly taps a boot-bound foot against his hunting partner's plated one. "Oi, ye sure yer not gonna cook in that thing, down here? Last thing I need's a broiled giraffe to deliver to yer cousin."
Fiora raises an eyebrow at her traveling companion, then sticks her long black tongue out. "I'm fine! I just need a shower or something. I hope this place isn't so backwater that it doesn't have water. That'd be silly though. They have to have some for drinking at least. Or else what WOULD they drink? The Sand?"
Gareth rolls his eyes a bit and looks out towards the mountains in the distance. "The place is called 'Respite Falls' for a reason, lass. Ye'll have a river to dive in, at least." He thrusts a thumb out towards the mountains, "Y'can bet there's a waterfall comin' outta the mountains."
Fiora shifts her head to look out the window, "Huh! Well, that makes sense. That settles that!" She twists her muzzle a bit in thought. "Do you think they'll have ice cream?"
Gareth blinks, shifting his one good eye to look at Fiora again with a bemused expression. "Ice cream...? In a place like this? Good luck findin' someone with proper magitech gear to keep that stuff cool."
Fiora blehs. "Spoilsport. You're probably right though." She thinks for a moment. "You didn't have to come all this way to the land without ice cream, you know. You could be sitting comfortably back in Glacier Bay right now, counting out all that sweet loot I got for you with that last job."
Gareth scoffs. "Sure, sure, an' then ye'll be all the way down here, cookin' yerself in that armor, and in no fit state if somethin' happens. Not like we're goin' to be stayin' here fer long, anyway."
Fiora frowns, looking out the window again. "Well... you're not. I don't know what's going to happen yet. I got business I gotta deal with, and not the usual business. Not the business I'm good at."
Gareth shakes his head. "Maybe not the normal sort o' business, but I'm here all the same to make sure ye don't get yerself in too much trouble. 'Sides, someone's goin' to have to pull yer metal-clad arse into the shade once the heat gets to ye."
Fiora giggles, "Well, guess you gotta protect your bread and butter somehow! If something happened to me, how would you get anything done, eh?" She sighs, "I do appreciate you coming though, this is still weird for me. Family stuff is always weird."
Gareth lets out a rough laugh. "Oh, please, lass. Ye know I can handle meself in a hunt. Weren't ye the one that said she "saved" me after divin' into a fight I'd already gotten battened down?" He sighs after a moment and nods, "And... aye, yer welcome, lass. S'pose huntin' partners help in most things, not only just huntin', eh?"
Fiora grins, "Always good to know someone's got your back. Even if they're the mangiest pirate that ever sailed the..." She pauses. "However many seas you sailed. Plus one cause of the one we sailed to get here."
Gareth chuckles and shakes his head. "Ahhh... I was only mangy when I was still on me old crew. Bounty huntin's been treatin' me better by far, even if the work's not as lucrative. It helps knowin' me partner's not goin' to stab me in the back first chance they get."
Fiora giggles, "Nah. My axe is way more for swinging. WHOMP! Besides, you got that padding you wear in the back. You know I'd aim for the head." She shrugs, "Who knows. Maybe you'll pick up some gig or another here for easy coin. I just... don't think I'm gonna rock the boat much."
Gareth shrugs a bit. "Maybe, who knows? Still feels kind of strange bein' so far out from the shore, though." He tugs a bit at the collar of his jacket, "Could do without the heat, too... Feels like I'm fryin' in a ship cook's oven."
Fiora giggles. "Heh. Out from shore. Rock the boat. Heee." She looks over at her helmet. "Maybe I can go back out there and sit on top of a wagon and get some air. You know, do the 'brooding mysterious bounty hunter' bit with the local guards. Wanna see which one of us they stop to question?"
Gareth smirks, then laughs again as he warms up to the idea over a few moments. "Heh, sure, why not? It'd be as good a way as any to get a feel fer the town. Want to make a wager of it, then?"
Fiora hums. "With or without weapons? I feel like we pull out the big stuff and they're gonna hold us both up. I bet they won't even check the luggage if they stop to talk to us." She snorts, "Not that I'll be talking. Gotta do the whole menacing silence. I think I can get them to let me in without showing my hunting license too."
Gareth 's smile gives way to bit of a wry look as he gestures at the pair of rather ornate flintlock pistols stowed in his belt. "With weapons, o' course. I'm not stupid enough to part ways with me gear if I can help it. Not like I'm tryin' to hide them, leastways." He pauses, then adds, "And ye can cheat if ye want, lass. I'll get in without havin' to show me hunting license unless they're smart enough to ask."
Fiora picks up her helmet, reaching for the coiled gorget that rests around her neck and stretching the interlocking pieces up. "Intimidation is not cheating! At least, you don't think it is when it's working in your favor. But tell yourself whatever you want. Guess we'll just see who gets into town first. Loser buys me an ice cream." She sets the helmet over her head and locks the gorget into place, then lowers the faceguard with a satisfying click.
Gareth reaches over to his side and picks up his hat, quickly setting it in place upon his head with practiced ease. "Fine by me. If there's no ice cream, though, ye'll have to settle fer somethin' else. If I win, I get a third of yer next job's pay."
Fiora snorts in the armor. She reaches back behind the seat to pull out her axe, then lifts her hand and raises one finger, then motions the hand backwards towards her mouth. One drink.
Gareth sighs, though an observant person might notice a small quirk to the corners of his mouth. He answers as he leans over and grabs hold of the scabbard keeping his saber protected from the elements. "Fine... fine. I s'pose I can settle for one drink."
Fiora pushes open the door to the carriage and steps outside of the slowly moving vehicle, taking in the small line of wagons waiting on the gate. Hefting the axe over her shoulder with a loud thud that draws quite a few eyes, the armored tank of a giraffe strides forward to find an adequate perch to sit on and await entry into town.
Gareth goes about things a little more gracefully, grabbing hold of the lip of the door and nimbly clambering up onto the top of the wagon the two have been riding on. He takes a moment to shut the door so the driver doesn't complain, then takes up a perch on the highest spot he can get to, mostly just to enjoy whatever slight breeze blows past the caravan.
----------------------------------------------
THE THIRSTY MINNOW - EVENING
----------------------------------------------
Brunilda is sitting at the one and only 'Big Creature Table', nursing her not-first pint of beer and somewhat staring into nothingness. If there's much of an active thought going inbetween those big ears of hers, it sure doesn't look like it.
Louma slithers through the doorway, dressed down in a pristine white cotton shirt and casual smile, approaching the bar to ask for a glass of wine and adjusting the bartenders idea of a hard limit for her orders. To be much lower than previous.
Brunilda belatedly realizes Louma entering, then smiles at the snakebird: "Hey there, Cap'n."
Louma turns as she picks up her wine glass, giving a slight bow to Brun. "Good evening, Brunilda." She approaches the pachyderm, though hangs a little back from the table. "How does the evening find you?"
Brunilda shrugs with a lopsided smile: "Eh. Seen better, seen worse."
Louma chuckles lightly, gesturing to the other side of the table. "Mind if I join you?"
Brunilda chuckles: "It's a free bar, ain't it?"
Louma nods, slithering around opposite Brun and coiling her tail up as a seat, settling down with a light sigh. "How are your studies going?"
Brunilda smiles, looking at her glass: "It's a lot to take in, and I can barely keep up at times, but... good, I think."
Louma smiles, setting her glass down on the table, unsipped. "That's good to hear, as long as it's making you feel like you're accomplishing something. At least you've got a teacher to help you out, hm?"
Brunilda smiles, lifting her glass: "I sure do. Best chance I could have gotten, that May's willing to help me."
Louma smiles a little more warmly. "The generator itself is progressing nicely, too, isn't it? It's all very exciting, my home is still very dark after all."
Brunilda chuckles: "Should be ready soon enough, the temp one. It's after that we get to start on the more permanent solution I think."
Louma nods, smiling as she picks up her glass and takes a short sip. She pauses for a moment, then looks towards Brun. "Not that I want you to play spy or anything, and I hope you don't feel any pressure to answer because of rank, but... Does Maybelline seem... Happy?"
Brunilda gives a wry smile: "She's been practically floating, if that's what you're asking."
Louma feels a wave of relief wash over her and it's not hidden in the slightest by the way her wings and coils relax, making it look as if she's begun melting. "Oh thank heavens!"
Brunilda blinks at Louma's reaction, then gives a soft chuckle: "Feared something else, I guess?"
Louma chuckles quietly, gathering herself a little bit with a quick glance around her. "Absolutely. It's been... Long, since my last relationship. I've been bouncing between giddiness and wracking nerves all week!"
Brunilda looks at Louma evenly: "I've noticed."
Louma levels her gaze at Brun, then laughs. "Alright, I suppose it hasn't been a subtle thing, I apologize."
Brunilda chuckles softly, lifting her pint: "No offense, and I say this as a friend, but... I don't think 'subtle' is your forte, exactly."
Aktzin comes in, not really looking around as he approaches the bar, snaking through the tables and chairs as he orders a light beer with a sandwich. He's tired, having tried to glean as much information as he can through the day, alongside some warehouse work to keep himself in coin. He settles down in the corner, trying to relax for now, focused for the moment at least, on his meal.
Louma puts her hand to her chest, reeling back in mock offense. "Who, me? I'm as subtle as... Well as... Okay, maybe the scales and these awkward things make it impossible to disappear, but that's not my fault!" Her back is turned toward the main area of the bar, including the entrance, as she spreads her wings halfway to emphasize her point.
Brunilda looks at Aktzin, then turns to Louma: "Speaking of subtle..." She motions behind Louma with her trunk.
Aktzin had been trying to keep to himself..but a snake flapping wings was ..well, it was attention grabbing. He 'sits' up, and stares over at Louma, already moving to get up. She had quite clearly gotten his attention!
Louma turns her neck, looking over her partially outstretched wing to scan in the direction Brun's pointing, spotting the snake almost immediately. She takes note of how he's looking at her, folding her wings back slowly as she speaks. "Brunilda, do you think that's the one?"
Brunilda gives the smallest of shrugs: "Could be. May be worth a few words with, at least."
Louma sighs, her mood immediately curdling as she uncoils, not taking her eyes off of Aktzin. "Just be ready to back me up, alright? We don't know what he wants other than a winged snake."
Brunilda nods, straightening in her seat but not making moves beyond that.
Aktzin approaches, weaving through the tables and chairs before looking at Louma, gearing whirring in his mind as he finally starts to put it together in his mind "You are Louma. Yess? Captain of the Guard here in Resspite?"
Louma nods, taking in his appearance. She gives a slight, short lived bow as she responds. "I am her, as you say. You seem to know me, may I have the same courtesy?"
Brunilda shifts in her seat enough to follow the exchange, but otherwise stays quiet.
Aktzin: "I am Aktzin, of the Hatchery Guard. I am sseeking the own I am ssworn to protect. I had heard rumours of a winged sserpent here in Resspite, but it sseems my hopess were for naught" The serpent was extremely taciturn, but even with that the whole 'my entire purpose for the last months has been for naught' thing was getting to him, and the strain was evident "I sshall need to continue my effortss elsewhere"
Louma tilts her head, glancing towards Brunilda. "So, the one you are seeking is not myself? I am not sure if I should be relieved or upset. Who is it that you seek, honorable guard? Perhaps we here can be of assistance."
Brunilda nods slowly: "If we can help, we will."
Aktzin: "I sseek Lady XochiCoatl. She vanisshed ssome time ago, but I am bound to her, regardlesss of where sshe might be. I musst find her, and resstore her to her proper place" He looks between the two "There are complexitiess of the politicss..but I care not, my only loyalty is to the Lady hersself"
Louma frowns at the name. "XochiCoatl? You lie, the coatl's are dead. They were dead before I left home."
Brunilda blinks, the name telling nothing to her. She looks between the two, somewhat confused as she attempts to piece together what's going on.
Aktzin: "They ssay the Hatchery Guard are dead too, yet here I am" He replies crisply "Lady XochiCoatl was kept alive, I never undersstood why They" He almost hisses out the word "Did sso, for their own twissted reassons no doubt, but they did, and sso I kept guard sstill. They ssay sshe died later, but I do not believe that either, sshe is not one to sso eassily fall"
Louma shakes her head, arms crossed. "I find it nearly impossible to believe you, the lizards-" she practically growls the word "- wiped them out, it was no secret. XochiCoatl is a myth, and you were just a pawn to give it some anchor in reality. Unless you met the ghost princess yourself, perhaps?"
Ragnarr: as the door opens a lsrge man dips his head down low to keep from bumping it. each patron was taken in. by those icey eyes of his before moving to the bar, tenders were always a wealth of information. he caught the tail end of a conversation that darted right over his head but it was interesting to say the least.
Aktzin: "Sshe is no ghosst. If sshe had died, I would know it" He shifted slightly, coiling gently around, closer to a strike stance "I wass bound to her from birth. I would never be a pawn for Them" He doesn't even name them "Why would I act to aid thosse that did what they did?"
Brunilda blinks, her confusion certainly not lessening: "Ghost... princess...?"
Aktzin looks to Brunhilda a moment "A lie, to quell thosse that may be heartened that a royal sstill lived"
Brunilda scratches the back of her head as she glances from Aktzin to the newcomer, not sure if she should answer anything. She recalls hearing about the whole snake-lizard mess back in Ondonga... assuming this is even related subject matter. In the end, she decides to just stay quiet.
Louma grimaces, unfolding her arms as she points at Aktzin. "You wouldn't willingly, no. Your view was tarnished from the start by your blind loyalty to false gods. They manipulated the snakes for centuries, and the lizards-" the word tarnished again by a harsh tone "-used it to maintain their plans!"
Aktzin: "Sshe livess" The conversation was not at a tail end. It was very much in the tail middle! "Many otherss have ssaid what you have ssaid, but she is alive. Sshe was no Goddess" He sighs "Except perhapss in the poetic sense..but" His tone drops again, saddenned by the topic "She did not die, I sshall find her, and prove it to all, and resstore her to her proper place. It is why I hatched, and wordss of those that had lost hope will not sstray me from that."
Louma crosses her arms again, resting back against her tail. "Your mission is futile. Even if she is not dead, she's six decades old, not a ripe age for a new leader. And if she's not dead, what took her from your excellent care? What makes you think someone sheltered for sixty years can even make it this far from Orela?"
Brunilda raises an eyebrow at Louma, seeing a bit of a different side of her Captain right now.
Aktzin: "We age well" He replies "I am sstill vital and sstrong, and I ssee no reasson that Lady Xochicoatl would be any more ssickly. Sshe was alwayss hale and healthy. You know ssso little. If sshe sso wisshed, sshe could make it accross oceanss, and I would follow her regardlesss" He leans in, eyes searching Louma's face "What makess you care sso much? If you think thiss so futile, why not let me continue my quesst? What iss your dessire to have my abandon my misssion?" Oh, he's paranoid too. Lovely.
Louma glares at Aktzin, leaning in equally. "Your pointless mission has brought unease and rumor to Respite. My job is to eliminate that unrest. What are you trying to imply, Aktzin?"
Aktzin: "I am trying to imply that you know ssomething you are not ssaying" He replies, leaning in further, not quite touching, not firm, unblinking eye contact. If there was anything snakes were good at, it was staring matches "I have assked ssimple quesstionss around the town, hardly bringing 'unease' and rumours are alwayss abound in every time. Neither are crimess Guard Captain. Unlessss, of coursse, the laws are that which dissplease thosse in charge sshould be put away. How... reminisscent."
Ragnarr listens to the conversation, truth be hard it would be hard to ignore. he had gotten the information from the tender he needed but now was happy to just watching the happenings.
Brunilda looks between the two, not sure if she should interfere or not. She's getting more tense, though.
Louma narrows her eyes at the snake, matching his stare. "How dare you presume to believe that I should reveal anything at all to you for your misguided quest. You may not be breaking any laws yet, but if I find out you are harassing anyone that has come to this town seeking refuge, I will have you in chains." Her voice does not climb in volume as she speaks, but her posture does, pushing herself up away from the floor by her tail as her wings extend. Although her beak tip remains inches from Aktzin's snout. "Do we have an understanding, honorable guard?"
Brunilda gets up, frowning at Louma as she does: "This seems awfully personal for you, Captain. I'll leave you to it." Her tone is somewhere between angry and slightly disappointed perhaps. Without another word, she heads out, not wanting to witness this exhange any further.
Aktzin: "I undersstand perfectly" He stares back, unflinchingly, coiled tightly like a spring "Your ssecretss are yourss to keep, and of coursse, when I disscover what thosse were, there..sshall be no conssequencess whatssover" He twitches just a little when Brunhilda moves, before refocusing on Louma "I, naturally, only wissh to maintain peace, and ssafety for all, and I know that your honourable, and honesst sself would only sseeek the ssame"
Louma glances towards Brunilda as she leaves, grimacing slightly before she refocuses on Aktzin. "As long as we are on the same page and you don't cause any trouble." She carefully backs off from the snake, folding her wings back in against her back. She's contemplating following after Brun, quietly sighing.
Aktzin: "Yes, then that should be acceptable. Now, I ssshall leave you to your own perssonal" He looks back out at Brunhilda's exit "Business" He slinks back to his own darkened corner. After all...his dinner was still there!
Louma watches Aktzin return to his table, her tail tip twitching from nerves. She's torn, having come here for the first glass on wine in a week, but now unsure if she should follow after Brun or stay in the same room as him to finish her drink. She grumbles to herself, returning to her spot at the table, feeling that chasing Brun down would only cause more damage than good.
Ragnarr finally scoops up the paper and bank notes presented from the bartender, his other hand draining a mug in a hurry before Louma he couldn't help but notice her body language but he was the last person to try and help. he slips out back to his forge.
Ragnarr stops at the door his hand on the door he fiddled with the cash in hand before moving back to Louma. He places a few bills down beside her. "you look like you need a drink more than me." He smiles tapping his knuckles on her table.
Louma looks toward the money that has been dropped on her table, looking up... and up, and up some more to the ridiculously tall wolf that's stopped by her table. "Ah, you don't have to. I wasn't planning on drinking much. I don't think we've met before, I certainly would remember you. May I ask your name?"
Ragnarr: "Ragnarr Longtooth." He offers a large hand to her with a wide toothy grin. "I don't drink or eat much anymore, was also taught to share when you can." He says shuffling on his feet a bit.
Louma takes the offered hand, shaking it lightly. "Louma, no surname. Happy to make your acquaintance. Would you care to join me at the table, or were you heading out just now?"
Ragnarr: "I was, but in no hurry to get back to all that work." he laughs as he takes a seat across from her. "I bought a small forge and im still setting it up so odd jobs are keeping me busy." he laughs a bit. "What are we drinking to today?" he asks curiously.
Louma nudges her wine glass, smiling warmly at Ragnarr'. "Just some red wine. Ale doesn't agree with me. You say you bought a forge? That makes three smithies in this little town, now, though I'm almost certain one of them only deals with construction goods. What's your specialty?"
Ragnarr: "My tribe looked at technology as a luxury, so tools of war, medicine, farrier work, and construction are what I'm good at. But I also do mason work as well." He stops a server down to get an ale when ever is convenient, he looks back to Louma. His body shifts relaxing a bit as the chair strains beneath him.
Louma grins, nodding. "Weaponry is what I'm interested in. A spear, to be precise. Back in Orela, it's what I trained with, and it's probably the only thing I miss about home."
Ragnarr: "socket, or single forged?" He asks obviously having knowledge in them. "spears have shaped history, weapons of great versatility... the only?" He asks obviously very interested.
Louma waves a hand at the last. "That's not important. The ones we used were a highly flexible jungle wood shaft, and the head was asymmetrical, with a barb on the smaller side. I could come by your forge and draw what I remember of it, if that's easier." She leans forward, elbow on the table and chin resting on that hand.
Ragnarr: "That would be the easiest way truth be told. Im due to fire up the forge tonight, lack of power is making me do it the old fashioned way. You are more than welcome to come by. was gonna invite that little kobold if i can find him again." He blathers a bit before he stops looking down. "Sorry i am rambling."
Louma chuckles softly, shaking her head. "It's fine, I appreciate the distraction. Do you mean Strix? He's an interesting fellow, isn't he? I hope he left a good impression on you."
Ragnarr: "strix! yes. he had me help him then fed me ham." he laughs a bit. "i hadnt even unpacked yet by the time he came yelling thought he was in danger." He notes her decision on his invitation.
Louma nods, leaning back from the table and stretching as she stifles a yawn. "Oh, sorry, please don't take that as anything bad, it's just been a long day. Where is your forge? I'll fly by there tomorrow perhaps?"
Ragnarr: "Near northgate, its unmissable after tonight. feel free to come by anytime, spread the word and ill work on that spear for you. You seem to be rather connected."
Louma smiles, shrugging as she uncoils while getting up. "Being a guard captain lends itself to meeting a lot of people." She glances in Aktzin's direction. "For better or worse." She finishes off the last of her wine, giving a Ragnarr a short bow. "Thank you for buying my drink, Ragnarr'."
Ragnarr stands up out of manners. "i look forward to another chat, look forward to many more." he watches her having never seen anyone like her before.
Louma nods, "As do I. Have a good night~" She turns from the table, slithering towards the door, the tip of her tail leaving the building seconds after she'd left. She spreads her wings once the night sky is overhead, taking off into the cooling air and arching herself towards home with much to think about.
Ragnarr finally heads home in this moment, he had lots of work to do still.
----------------------------------------------
FORGE NEAR THE NORTH GATE - EVENING
----------------------------------------------
Ragnarr had filled the forge and prepped the smithing area. he was knelt before the large brick forge. His hands and portions of his fur coated in dust, it was warm so he only wore boots and a trousers. "ancestors, brothers, sisters, and those that will roam after us... may the tools made here bring you wealth, peace, and comfort." he draws a long looking seax standard issue from his regiment. He rose up moving to the coal, he cuts into his palm superficially dribbling his blood over the coals.
Ragnarr: lit the fire stick and buried it deep before a large clawed hand gripped the the push bellows. the fire was low at first as he slowly worked the flames, a low snap and pop filled the air around him. he nodded and spoke in greetings to those in passing. he knew how important the birth of the forge was so he just stood there working the bellows slowly.
Ragnarr held certain traditions close to his heart, but also he knew history was successful. he thank those brothers and sisters whom he'd lost in the great northern wars as a reminder to himself of when he must live.. succeed... thrive.
Ragnarr was almost lost to the outside as the bellows did their job the fire not only coming to life but growing bold and strong with his mechanical intervention. His excitement showed as he slowed the bellows as to not waste the coal within. he looked away at those fee that had gathered, curiosity filled the large wolf, where he was from almost every house had at least a working forge for essentials.