Tapestry of the Ages Korvesa: Midnight Madness

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Teressa had her stallion take a step towards the Marshall and the three riders. Their horses eyed hers suspiciously. She rested her hand on her sword hilt and declared: “I have some steel with me and I am willing to offer you some aid in getting your men armed.” She started to grow weary in the huge crowd of people, dressed this scantily. It was definitely not proper, even in these circumstances. Luckily for her, most people seemed to be too frightened to notice, but she still wanted to get away from the intersection as fast as possible. “So where is the armoury?” she asked with a firm voice that she tried to put a determinated tone into. The old guard captain, that had doubled as her swordsmanship master had always told her that emanating a natural authority was crucial for a leader, be it in politics or in war. Nothing undermined authority like a fearful voice or a desperate sob. The Marshall clearly was a seasoned leader, and she tried to take him as an example. She kept her expression neutral, and her eyes levelled, not betraying a single emotion. This also meant she couldn’t show any embarrassment over her clothing. So she just proudly sat on her stallion, casting a grim, assessing glance over the people around her, while she desperately hoped the fabric covering her chest was not thin enough to see through.
 
But perhaps she could be of use. She was quick to catch the faces of new arrivals. Over the townsfolk, she could hear their conversation. Maybe she had freakish good hearing, but it ended up saving her life once. Her knowledge of being able to forge armor and weapons could be tested. Xenia glanced over at the woman, who looked under dress. Perhaps she, too, was attacked. There was something about the woman she couldn’t pinpoint, but the confidence and endurance she held in her words invigorated those same qualities in the Necromancer. Giving her the opportunity to elbow her way through the crowd, even as they grew in fear of the rune’s light being snuffed out momentarily.

Soon as she broke free of the clamoring crowd’s grasp, she stumbled into an empty path. Xenia used her Staff to keep herself stable as she walked over to join as the last of the words fell from the woman’s mouth. “If I may intrude,” Xenia spoke, her voice unwavering, “I can forge weapons and armor.” She felt confidence spill into her very core. She figured she would leave the minor detail out that she had forged none before in her twenty-five winters alive. But that would be a bridge she would cross when it came up.
 
Pride nodded in response to the townsman who pointed the way for Pride to go, which was of much help as he had no idea which way west was with the sky the way it had been and in unfamiliar territory. The flames that wrapped around him gave a sense of comfort as his eyes turned towards the shadows that filled the expanse out of town, sure, there was light around him now but the further he went out he imagined that there would be less and less natural light. Thankfully the land may provide him with some kindling should the need arise, but he didn't relish the idea of having to burn anything he didn't have to; but if it were to save the land of a worse corruption he felt that it would forgive him for his plight.

He had listened, albeit half-hearted as the others spoke about clearing the armory. The voice atop the horse seemed confident, and Pride's natural feeling from the horse itself was a reassuring presence so he figured they would be able to handle themselves there in town. The woman that was eager to help prior was still there, but he wasn't all that certain if waiting for their help would be of much value to him. "Are you... Joining?" Pride floundered, searching his memory for the right words. He understood the language just fine, but struggled with any recollection of learning or speaking it before. Still, the intent behind their words were clear and he started to worry about what could happen if he hesitated for much longer.

In the event of a chase, especially with one that already had a head start he feared that he would have immense trouble catching up on foot. Glancing back towards the Marshall and the others Pride approached once more. "If we're to hunt down a... Fugitive? We need help. Horse. Mount." Pride struggled to clear his thoughts, but as he looked between those ready for travel he sighed. "We have to move quickly." He got out, chasing an unknown figure west even though he had a lead sounded difficult. Catching up to someone on foot while on horseback, now that seemed possible.
 
The vulx was more than ecstatic that someone volunteered alongside her and Orbryn! She beamed up at the horned fellow and wagged her tail jubilantly. "This is good!" she exclaimed. "We will go west, together. I am Ti'el," she told him, putting a hand to her chest. In a swift motion, she bounded over to her mentor to take his hand and pull him over. Whether he followed or not, she would point to him. "This is Orbryn and he is my teacher! He will be joining us."

Agreeing with Pride, she nodded. "Did the half-elf also leave on a horse?" she then asked. "I have great smell. Is there something that belongs to him anywhere?"
 
Grimbold narrowed his eyes at Teressa. For the most part her state of dress had been going largely un-noted given that the incident had occurred in the middle of the night. She was far from the only one out on the street that was woefully under-dressed. She was however the only one lacking in dress that was also volunteering to see to whatever threat lurked within the armory. Her confidence won him over though.

"Someone get her some clothes," he ordered.

"Here," Orbryn answered.

The elven man was rather over-dressed - a peculiarty perhaps for the time of night, but he had his reasons - and he was quick to shed his tabard. The tabard was meant to be worn over clothes so it would likely be rather loose fitted upon Teressa, but it was well made and would offer some protection from the chill in the air that would no doubt return as soon as they moved away from the fires. He spoke little else as he offered it up to Teressa.

Grimbold nodded before addressing the guardsmen.

"You two, give them your horses," he told them with a gesture towards Pride, and Ti'el. "Then stay here and make sure this fire is put out."

"You two," he continued, addressing Xenia and Teressa. "We'll make for the armory."

The guardsmen where quick to pass the reigns of their animals over to the trio going in pursuit of the half-elf. Orbryn reached a hand out to take the one offered to Ti'el, given her inexperience with horses. The unsettled animal snorted and tossed its head, but he was quick to settle it with a gentle but firm hand that he ran over the top of the horse's muzzle and forehead in soothing strokes.

"Easy," he said before he swung up into the saddle and offered a hand down to Ti'el.

"The half-elf was on foot," the breathless man from earlier told them as he moved out of the way so those on horses could get through.

Orbryn only nodded in reply before he urged the horse forward at a trot towards the western entrance of town.
 
Pride cocked his head to the side as the vulx addressed him, his eyes flashing in the flames that illuminated the area. Her introductions were met with a rather blank expression but his eyes showed that she had his attention. "Pride." He responded, pointing towards himself as means of introducing himself. He nodded along to the both of them, putting away their names in his memory. Orbryn and Ti'el. The vulx explained that she was good at tracking scents, to which he was pleasantly surprised that they're tracking party would be better off hunting an unknown target in the dark.

As the Marshall assisted both parties Pride shifted his attention back to him, listening as he calmly organized his guards and reached for assistance from others. He glanced from the woman atop the horse towards the one holding the glistening stone, he didn't know much about the two but one was rather confident and the other seemed magically prepared. He figured that the two would handle themselves just fine, so instead his attention shifted back towards the horses as they were drawn about by the guardsmen. The one presented to him whinnied for a moment as it approached the flames that surrounded Pride, but as as they flickered and wrapped around behind his torso he leaned forward and pressed his forehead against the horse's muzzle. Closing his eyes he just listened, running an idle hand along the muzzle. Pride enjoyed wildlife of all sorts, and as he stayed beside it the horse calmed before pulling back and taking a step to allow Pride easier access to the stirrups.

It took a moment for Pride to climb atop, struggling with a bit of placement as his mind blanked - but bit by bit, memories resurfaced where he remembered how to ride. When did he learn how to do this? Tucking the question away for later, the ran a hand along the horse's neck and wordlessly urged it forward; following the other horse at a trot towards the western road.
 
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