Vance instinctively tried to move away, but forced his reflexes to stop. He closed his eyes, trying to get control of himself. He was losing composure, and he couldn't maintain a perfect degree of control. No matter what he tried, he couldn't escape from the rush, the sensory overload. He opened his eyes as her hands clasped around his. He closed his hands around hers too and looked into her eyes. He smiled. She was using his own words against him. Not against him. To remind him. To remind him that if he really wanted this, then he could fight for it to have it. Right now... He saw no reason not to make that choice. He couldn't find any words, so he did the next best thing he could think of. Vance freed his hands from hers and embraced her. "I can't find the words," He spoke quietly. "So I have to let my actions speak for me." He closed his eyes and allowed himself to melt into the moment. To feel the warmth of her against him, to feel her curls brushing against his cheek. In that moment, for that moment, Vance Dorian felt a solitary, unique, and precious moment of peace. He had no idea if he would ever find it again, but it didn't matter. The moment was all that mattered. He even forgot that all this was happening inside the sewer of a city of pale people who hadn't seen the light for far, far too long. He forgot about the troubles with Thea. He forgot everything. Everything except her. He allowed himself that, for once.
It went better than expected, but now it was a case of choosing his words right, to best express himself. What they were both to some extent, thinking. He could see that she was waiting for him to say something, for him to say it, and clarify it. His breath caught and his mouth went dry as he looked into her eyes. lost. Vance put a hand on the wall and looked down, allowing himself to visibly show the nerves that he too, felt. To show that there was something behind the cool, composed and collected guise that he always wore. He moved his head to look back at her, but was forced back down. He couldn't. Not while he couldn't say what he wanted to say. You committed to this path Vance! See it through! "I mean to say that - You... You fascinate me. It's as if you've enchanted me, I can't pull my mind away. Nothing, not what my family would think, nor what your people or my own values, nothing can dissuade me from thinking, feeling this." Vance explained. It was muddled, he knew. But he couldn't find the best way to express himself. He lamented his lack of experience in this area. "I'm... Enthralled and, and lost and... I can't find the words to say to express myself properly. Not even I." He looked up at her now, forcing himself to. He had to face her while he talked. While he explained this. "I feel that there is more to us. Between us. And... I want there to be. It's selfish, and, and I fear impossible but... For once I want to follow something other than political logic, or rationale or my family or my nobility. I want... I want to follow myself. And that, that leads to you." He stopped, then laughed nervously and looked down again. "I probably didn't explain it all that well, did I?"
"I doubt there'll be much lurking around. It seems that people haven't been down here for some time." Vance replied, but he conceded the point to her. He knew that she was lying, he could see it in all of her being. Her mannerisms, her speech and the way she carried herself. He was glad. Even if she couldn't expressly say it, he knew what she was thinking. Even when she started going on about how his coat had touched the lower part of his body. Of course. That rule she has to adhere to. He shrugged and put his coat back on. "We are walking, are we not?" Vance smiled at her again and raised an eyebrow. I should probably let her know that I'm well aware of what she's thinking about. "I can tell what you're thinking Shani." He admitted. He paused, both physically and in speech before continuing. If he said this... It committed to a path. He thought for a moment. Would he regret this path? If he actually did make this choice to say it, then what was there to lose? What was there to gain? Did it matter? It didn't. Right now... Right now he thought that it would be best to come straight out with it. The worst that would happen was that they'd get stuck awkwardly together which was the first half of the day anyway. "And I am thinking the same. We're both thinking along the same lines. I... I feel like I should say that now. While there's a chance. A chance to be honest with you - And myself."
"It's not at all hot down here. I can feel the chill and I'm wearing a coat made out of a firebird." Vance pointed out, not at all convinced by what she was saying. He stopped for a moment and removed the coat and slung it over his right arm and hurriedly walked to catch up to her. He offered his arm with the coat on it. "By all means, if you need it."
"Well, I'm glad I'm not on his bad side. I have a feeling that I wouldn't be able to handle him." Vance replied casually. If the stories about him hold any weight, I doubt that many people could stop him. He wasn't sure what to make of what she was saying next, until she got further along. 'At least that's how I see you.' Mentally, he froze and an electric jolt ran through his body, but he was able to contain the surprise and keep moving with not a beat missed. Is she saying... No. she can't be. "I do." He said simply, and then looked at Shani. He could see that she was flustered, and shivering. Fiddling with hair, moving hands and the faint tinge of her cheeks was the sign of embarrassment. He had to get her back for doing the same to him when they first met. "Embarrassed, are you?" He teased with a casual smile. He wanted to just let things happen. Even if nothing worked, right now, where there was nobody to judge, with everyone going in far different directions... He wanted to be able to say the things in his head, the things on his mind. He could only hope. "Do you need a coat for that shiver?" He held up a part of the collar of the phoenix coat to clarify what he meant.
Vance listened intently to the tale that she told, and it bothered him. A friend of his was rejected for no real reason other than spite, but more than that, it was the mindset of the people. He intently disliked that sort of character that she described. Young men with dreams of nobility and trying to live by chivalry and then turning away because none of them had the integrity to see past the appearances of people and see the truth of who they were. Little did they realise that they turned away two people who were infinitely more worthy than them on that day, and it was to their loss. "They're blind people. They see only what is immediately apparent, but they do not look further. They do not look to roots, to the identity of the person, to potential." Vance replied in a disgusted tone. "Regrettably I know others like that, but they are blind people too. We Dorians are different. We do not look to appearance, we look beyond. We see what they have to offer, what power their spirit has to bring them further. Your people are of humble roots, not necessarily much to look at but your spirits... Especially yours... There's a fire to it. Someone like you would do well." Part of him hoped that he could somehow sway her to come to the Dorian estate, to work for them. She could hold a privileged position, she could work her way up... Alas, he realised, they could never confine her. It would be wrong to. It made things harder to work. Along with her religion and her culture, her real family. "Stand by your family. It is they who will hold you up, support you." He nodded, agreeing with her. "They're not dashed yet. You don't need a guild to go adventuring, or to go rescuing princes and princesses. If I see a prince, I'll be sure to let you know. But the princess I may have to reserve for myself." The nobleman allowed himself a smile. He caught the wistful tone with which she said 'you', meaning Vance himself. Part of him felt happy, proud of himself even, but another part was sad. Sad because their identities were separating them. Could either of them risk bridging that gap? "Me? A prince? No," Vance lightly tapped her with his elbow in response with a chuckle, and then his face lit up as his eyes flicked over to her. "Not quite yet. But eventually, if all goes to plan. Maybe more than a prince." Dale followed her to the tavern and eyed the files eagerly. Now then, he just had to be able to withstand this alcohol, which surely was not going to be a problem. He sniffed it. It seemed fine. He raised the cup to his lips and hesitated before drinking. Once she had, then he'd make his move. When she did, he drunk too. "Come here often?" Dale asked, making idle conversation. He had to lull her into a false sense of security first.
"I hope not." He didn't say anything more on the subject of revolutions and sides. It was an altogether grim subject and a quite depressing one. He didn't want totally destroy the somewhat friendly atmosphere that they were developing. Much to his surprise, she was actually willing to level about what she really wanted. As she explained, dashing this way and that, speaking with the liveliness and energy that he had always associated with her, Vance smiled, listening and laughing along. He hid the sadness behind his smile. It only reminded him of silly thoughts and dreams that seemed impossible to really achieve . She had a good chance of achieving her dreams though. Rescuing a prince, finding love even though she didn't want to admit that was what she wanted and having a happy ending. "You don't need to have magic to do all that you know. For many years, the world of those without magic has gone by and humanity is none the worse for it. Indeed, some of the greatest heroes are those who aren't wizards, because they achieved so much without magic at all." He decided to add his own personal mindset on to things. "If you have the will, the true drive to do, to achieve something and to realise a dream, you can do it. Everything is possible if you have only the willpower to see it through to its completion." He probably sounded almost wise. "I believe that you have the ability to make that happen for yourself. You've shown all the passion. Why wait? Why wish, when you could simply do it?"
Derrick's eyes flicked over to Treasa and he frowned, putting down his blades and fixing her with an irritated gaze. "What is your problem?" Derrick called after her. "Ever since we met, you've been at my throat for no reason. I've done nothing to you. I've made no advances, and all I've done is joke and try to lighten the mood after a mass slaughter. We could all do with something a little lighter in our hearts I think. So why are you going after me?" He glanced over at Alastar and jerked his head towards Treasa. "Have you got any idea what her issue is Alastar? Is she always like this?" He showed no signs of stopping there. "Have we met before? Have I wronged you somehow? Something other than breathing, that is? Please, enlighten me, I'm afraid I don't quite understand. If you wanted me to leave you alone you could just say so, instead of being a goddamned unbearable b*tch to somebody you don't know, and have only just met!" It had been a long day, a day where his temper had been called upon time and time again. A day of loss, sadness and frustration. Her behaviour was the final straw which prompted his outburst. Was it really too much to ask to have good company, and some peace? Was it really too much to ask not to be an environment of tension and hatred? Alastar was alright, he was a funny guy and they could get along, but her behaviour was simply inexplicable and completely unjustified. He couldn't remember having ever met her. Was it a friend of hers? Derrick was at a loss.
"You raise a good point Alastar, but I'm more about being quick. Those things look a little heavier and I'm not too fond of the top heavy balance, and I tend to favour a precision based approach to those things." Derrick replied, sitting up and looking at Alastar. Almost as if reminded by him, he took his blades out and a whetstone as well as some oil and began to clean and resharpen the weapons. Derrick scowled at the sight of his silver blade. Sadly, having to parry had worn the silver edges of the blade down on the one side. He'd make sure to use the other side and get it fixed up at the nearest blacksmith. Thinking about it, once his shoulder had recovered he was going to head to Novigrad and seek employment under King Archon. That reminded him, he still had to help Tatiana out... But he had no idea where she was. He could only hope that she made it out alive. Hopefully one of them did. The memory of Aaron's head being held up by that psychopath Bryce echoed in his mind. He quickly changed his mind back to the subject at hand. Best not to think about all that. "That, and swords are stylish. When people think style, and rank, they think swords. It's all part of the Derrick of Kaedwen brand." Derrick continued. His eyes flicked over to Treasa, then back to Alastar. "Besides, most women think swords are cool." The last part was partly as a joke, but knowing the girl who had recently joined their party, she'd probably think that he was serious. That reminded him. "Wait, Olivia was meant to be in Oxenfurt as well. Where is she?"
"I see... You know Shani, those stories exist for a reason." Vance pointed out, intrigued by the rumours she mentioned about Clopin. He knew enough about magical lore, and he had seen some bizarre stuff in his time here, that things like that could be plausible. "That doesn't mean that he's evil necessarily, but I get the impression that a man with a story of that sort has more to him than he lets on." Vance hadn't really interacted with him, so he couldn't say for sure. "I appreciate the fact that you're being honest about your intentions here." The nobleman's voice softened. He could afford to be a little softer now that she showed her hand. "You know, I hope your revolution isn't a bloody one. I don't want our people's to be on opposite sides." He was curious now, as to what she wanted. "So what is it that you're looking for, may I ask?" He inquired. "Alright, that sounds good to me." Dale nodded and smiled at her. Excellent. So, the plan is to go out, get her drunk and then somehow get away with the files I need. This is perfect. Absolutely nothing could go wrong with this. I just have to make sure that I stay sober. Edric's drinking challenges may save me here. Gods bless that drunk *******!
"Yeah, you're not too bad." Aston replied to Kevin. He then looked to Arthur who was working on him and gave the man a smile. "Thanks, I needed that. Glad we've got a medic on us, otherwise this injury was going to get awkward." Once again, he mentally berated himself for not paying attention. He was lucky not to have his entrails ripped out. "Well, because they're *******s obviously." The man replied somewhat fippantly. "The wolfpack came. There are more of them out there, but they chased after my friends. They ran towards the Keep." He looked at Kevin and raised an eyebrow. "You serious man? I mean, most people would have charged me for saving me. Or at least asked something." He shrugged. "Well, if that's your prerogative, fine. I'm just going to get out of here if you guys don't even want anything." "It's a shame that such a fate had to befall good people." Aedan spoke, looking at the burning mess of building on the side of the town. He could see why people would consider killing the creatures. What they had done was a needless act of destruction, but driven by what? Nature did not rise against humanity in such a way unless there was dire need. Animals feared humans, they knew that humans carried fire, guns and spears to slay them. So why would they come to this place, the center? Of course, they were unusually bad tempered beings it was said, but that was beside the point. "We should go to the walled off area. There may be people who need my aid." Aedan walked over to the fortified position, seemingly the only place which hadn't been set on fire and searched for medical tents, or signs of the wounded. He looked over at the burning area. Perhaps there were people trapped over there still... He shuddered. They needed more information.
"That's good, Florica is a good person." Vance replied. He walked through the sewers, making sure to keep away from the centre of the room where the sewer water was running. "And don't worry. No harm was done." He spoke in his usual tone, the clipped and detached voice that he used for basically everyone save those he was close to. He didn't feel comfortable using any other tone with Shani. "I suppose. I've never really been of the mind for adventure. It never made sense to me that people would risk their lives to go searching for something. But then again, I've always had everything that I wanted. There was nothing that I ever needed to find." Vance replied. "Is there something you're looking for out there?"
She felt Rose attempting to strangle her and she immediately forced herself backwards to slam the woman against the wall. She turned around when they hit the wall and spun, putting Rose's back to the group now. "Get her!" Carissa shouted, trying to wrestle the woman into keeping central. Kalak, who had up until this point been watching with an amused smirk on his face launched off in pursuit of Ransak as he ran away. The Demi-God was aware that the man was now escaping with some highly valuable artefacts. A communication crystal with Xanatos Reaver himself... He was interested now. He'd ask later. However, there was a problem. Kalak was further across the room than Ransak, and he was slower to react because of his wounds. They were healing, but they were still fresh. By the time he got outside, the thief had disappeared. "Well, that's bad. I suppose I'd best tell Jayce." Kalak re-entered the Valiant and headed to the bridge.
"Damn, you don't waste time getting to know people before the accusations start flying." Derrick commented, still looking up at the sky. He smirked to himself. "And I wouldn't have thought you'd have been famous for sleeping with the women this side of Skellige. I would have thought it was the men." If she wanted to play the b*tchy attitude then she would receive the same in kind. It was kind of annoying that she was already taking shots. He hadn't even tried to flirt with her yet! She could have at least waited until she had some justification! It was kinda true, but that wasn't the point. It was a matter of principle. "Anyway, by the sounds of it you're right. Unless you feel like abusing your new friends more." He finished pointedly. "Very well. Novigrad it is." Adolin stated, and he led them towards the city nearby. They would arrive at the gates of the city in a little while. He considered their next move. They'd find somewhere to eat, then try to get a little more out of the sorcerer and perhaps slightly introduce him to their plans. He had no fondness for Witchers eh? Interesting... "You're looking for Matilda?" The corporal raised an eyebrow and looked at the man on the horse behind her. He looked like another Northerner, whereas the lady had a more Southern touch. More from his part of the world. Interesting. Looking at the boy's face, he noticed similarities. "She didn't think any of you would really come look for her. Come off your horse, and follow me." When they dismounted, the Corporal beckoned for them to enter a nearby tent. The tent was larger than the others, signalling that it was probably his. Inside, there was a pair of pillows and a large blanket, inside which there was a young woman resting. "Matilda!" Gordon exclaimed. The girl stirred and looked over to them, revealing bruising and a large cut on her face. "Gordon?" She murmured. Her eyes flicked over to Ardal. "Hey, Ardal. Why are they here...?"
"I see. Thank you for coming Prince Varraki." The captain of Jaden's personal guard stated, seated behind a desk with Varraki and his companions opposite. "I apologise to ask this of you, but you will have to wait a while to speak to the Inheritor. He's a busy man, and is currently undertaking an interrogation of a high value enemy unit. I assure you, that as soon as he is done with his duties then he will be happy to meet with you. To your friends who have sympathies, we will be happy to accept you within the army. Although, we will have to ask some questions about your companions. We will escort you to some quarters befitting of your stature if you wish, Prince Varraki." He eyed the large construct and the woman that it seemed to be protecting. "They will of course have to be questioned first. Rest assured, we accept all kinds in the Shards of Hope, we just need to know who we're dealing with exactly." Jaden saw David swoop in and close the door. He looked at him sharply, for he had just cut in front of him rather disrespectfully. However, the Inheritor nodded to him approvingly. "A most prudent course of action. Now then, we shall wait for those inside to apprehend her, and the situation will be under control again." He folded his hands behind his back and waited for the events inside the cell to resolve themselves. He had confidence that Carissa could handle whatever was going on. She had killed Demi-God, albeit from ranged. She had trained with the Blackshards to some extent in melee, so she wouldn't be incompetent. And it could provide that Prince who thought rather much of himself a chance to prove himself actually useful.
"Yeah, nice apart from the several hundred innocent people that got butchered in that mess. And my shoulder. That really put a downer on the whole affair." Derrick spoke with a tone of icy sarcasm. He followed suit with the other Witcher however, and lay down on the grass, unbuckling his swords and crossbow and laying them next to him so he could lie down comfortably. He closed his eyes and sighed, then looked into the sky. A clear sky, unmarred by rising columns of smoke. The only sounds were nature and his companions, a merciful break from the pained screaming of the past few hours. He didn't need to sleep, but he'd enjoy the chance to. However, that could wait. For now, he wanted to know a little about their new friends. "Thanks for saving our asses. Getting out of there would have been harder if you hadn't come along, damn ghouls... So who are you two anyway? I've never heard of you Bear, and certainly not your lady friend." Your lady friend who apparently hates my face or something. "Well give us a bit to find the aforementioned safe place. We were headed to Novigrad. It's a big place with plenty of places to lay low. That, and we're looking for something there?" Adolin explained, somewhat briefly. "Any objections?" If this guy was a sorcerer, it was possible that he had an idea of where they might find someone with the required materials. And his skills could be helpful. Could someone so talented with making stone break it just as easily? Could his skills be used to destroy? It was possible. The people of Pontarsfork continued with their day in blissful ignorance. Many people had already gathered water from the well before the hidden death had begun, but people sometimes used water to bathe and so went back to the well and collected their new poison. And so, in a couple of houses, the death of the village began with chills, and shivering. Ellyn's shouting attracted attention of varying sorts. Curious soldiers in varying degrees of dress poked their heads out of tents, or looked up from around their cups and fires to see the woman that was shouting for the corporal in the Northern Tongue. None of them dared say anything, for they saw she was different. That she was special. It was best not to interfere with their business. However, she did manage to attract the man she was looking for. Corporal Ardal aep Skellan, in full uniform stepped out and approached her. "Then let us have a few words. What is it you want from a humble corporal? I imagine you'd be better off going to the command tents my lady." He suggested politely. One didn't climb the ranks by being rude. Ardal aep Skellan did not want to be a corporal forever.
"Hey, don't be like that Veera! I bet you'd hate carrying my arse with a busted shoulder too!" Derrick retorted. He noticed that Treasa was giving him a strange look and he gave her a quizzical look. Seriously, what is with her? I've never met this woman in my life. It's like she's staring into my soul. It never once occurred to him that his sexual exploits across the North were that well known. He continued to fire off crossbow bolts towards the oncoming creatures. Alanna looked down at Evander as he started squatting on the floor for some hitherto unknown reason. His gaze passed over her and she shuddered. It was a strange look. His embittered eyes made her feel uncomfortable. Her next thought was that he was absolutely bloody rude. She could hardly blame him, and at least he didn't hide his unease or his contempt. "Relax, if we wanted you dead then we'd have tried to kill you." She heard Adolin speak behind her. He confessed that he had used too much energy, and that what he did wasn't even that impressive...? He mustn't think much of himself, even though what he did was nothing short of impressive. She had never seen magic applied like that before, or in such a grand display. "Listen, if you've used too much power then you're going to need to get a decent rest." Alanna stated. Adolin looked at her about to protest, but she narrowed her eyes at him. "And don't you complain. We've done enough bad stuff for now." Yeah, I screwed another Sorceress. And we sold her out to that psychopath Bryce. Anyone else and I'd have felt better about it. "Very well." Adolin nodded and conceded the argument to her. He wasn't going to complain about helping this guy. He looked in a rough state, but he was powerful. Very, very powerful by the looks of it. Deceptively so. Evander was now telling them to do as they wished with him. That he was at their mercy. That was obvious. He was as soon as they found him, judging by his state. He seemed damn near insane. "Look Evander, this is the fact of the matter. If we wanted to kill you, or capture you, we wouldn't have waited this long. You couldn't put your sword to mine in that state, and I imagine that Alanna would be able to overpower you. We're not here to hurt you, capture you, or kill you. We just wanted to find out what was with those pillars." "And now we're offering to get you somewhere safer than in this field." Alanna added. The soldier that Ellyn accosted stood up straight sharply and was about to salute when he realised that she was speaking the Northern tongue and not his own language. He looked up at her. Expensive warhorse, armour, sword... Yeah he wasn't going to ask any questions. She seemed important enough. "If you would follow me, I can take you to the Corporal." The soldier led her dutifully to the place that the Corporal should be between the tents. There was a set of tents over by the wall where the Corporal kept an eye on the men under his command. He led her to the group of tents. "He is here. I do not know where... But that is your problem. Good day to you." He marched off hurriedly.
Mists of Fogwarden Baldomar punched Scrawny Wolf 2 in the face twice. Scrawny Wolf 2 is a scrub, and thus did not dodge. He did 11 damage! Scrawny Wolf 2 lives Anthea used Gust on Scrawny Wolf 3. Scrawny Wolf 3 is not superpowered, and thus cannot dodge air. She did 43 damage! RIP wolf. It's unconscious body was thrown back by 1 hex. Kevin used Dagger Strike twice on Biggest Baddest Wolf The Biggest Baddest Wolf is too big and bad to dodge, and thus cannot dodge. It did 24 damage! The wolf is still alive. Artie gallantly defended Baldomar. Aston used Arming Sword Strike on Biggest Baddest Wolf. He did 54 damage for massive overkill. Exploit Weakness Triggered! He used Consecutive Shortsword Strike on Alpha Wolf. The Alpha Wolf dodged because this one is the Alpha wolf and thus dodged. He used Consecutive Shortsword Strike on Alpha Wolf at -2 AP The Alpha Wolf was not Alpha enough, and thus did not dodge the second time. He did 30 damage! Alpha Wolf is down! Kellan used Longsword Strike on Big Bad Wolf 01 Big Bad Wolf was, like his friends, not big enough or bad enough to dodge and thus did not dodge. He did 82 damage, for even bigger overkill. Seeing the violent deaths and wounds of its comrades, the final wolf saw no reason to stick around and tried to flee. Scrawny Wolf 02 tried to flee. With the wolves safely dispatched, the man in the tree jumped down and rushed over to the group of them. "By the Father, thank you!" He cried. "I thought I was a goner! My friends, the other people I was with left me behind! They just took off and ran! I don't even know where they went!" He looked at the group of them. "How can I repay you? You saved my life." Aston remained silent, allowing the others to answer the question. He knew what he would do in their position, but he wanted to gauge their characters to see what they would do presented with someone as thankful as he was. In the meantime, Aston clutched his side. He would interrupt them a moment. "Are any of you healers? I seem to have taken a hit." He stated, sounding disappointed. Really, he should have paid more attention and he wouldn't have been bitten at all. However, perhaps by his distraction he had made sure that the wolf didn't target any of the new people. Perhaps it was worth it in that case. Kellan was running to catch up to them as his fight had taken place a short distance from everyone else's. He could see that Aston was nursing an injury in the side. He grimaced, that looked painful. Luckily, nobody else seemed harmed by it.
"You're the mage that did that-" She began, but apparently Evander wasn't finished. He began pointing - Aggressively, and was insinuating that there was going to be violence. That they were coming for them. He seemed to even be suspicious of her. He reeked of alcohol, so she wasn't surprised. And he was someone who had something to hide. Evander... She didn't know the name off the top of her head. The sorceress took a step back as soon as he returned his attention to her, signified by the pointing finger returning to her. She held her hands up. "Hey, cool it! If you must know, I'm a sorceress. And he's not a Witcher. He just killed one. We don't want any trouble with you." She gave a hasty explanation, trying to make sure that this didn't get ugly. "We just wanted to know what was going on with that. I mean- Wow. That was impressive work." She glanced at the large obelisk she could see behind him, then back at the sorcerer. "I've never seen someone as powerful. The sorceress who taught me couldn't do anything like that." By this point, Adolin had come up to her. She could feel his familiar presence. She looked at him. He was guarded, but not aggressive. "Whatever your problem is sorcerer, you've nothing to fear from us. I only kill two kinds of people - And you're not either." Adolin stated flatly, gazing into the eyes of the sorcerer. "And since you gave us your name -" Adolin put a hand on Alanna's shoulder, and pointed at himself afterwards. "This is Alanna. My... Companion. And I'm Adolin." He wasn't sure how this was going to go. Would this strange man be... Not necessarily pleasant but... Civil? He hoped so. He seemed... Interesting. And someone as powerful as that could certainly do something in our plans. Heh, perhaps with this one if we can only convince him, we won't even need materials at all. Nevertheless, I'm willing to let him slide. After all, he might well be fond of these Witchers. I won't kill him for that, but I won't involve him either. "Ellyn!" Gordon exclaimed quietly so that they couldn't hear her name. He looked at her with a panicked face. He'd heard of what Nilfgaardians did to the people that annoyed them. They ended up on the gallows. He didn't want to her there, hanging. She didn't deserve that. Gordon's fears soon proved unfounded and the corporal laughed with his squad. "Your girl's brother is... What you Northern people would call a pisspot." He chuckled. He signalled and the gate of the camp opened for the pair that rode upon the horse. Sizing it up, he could see that it was a fairly respectable beast. The cavalry would be envious of a horse like that. He turned to his soldiers and barked something in the fluted Nilfgaardian tongue. "I don't know anything, but Elan here does." A short conversation in the foreign tongue later, the soldier known as Elan came forward. "This girl... You call her Matilda, yes?" He nodded, as if answering his own question. "There was such a girl... Go to the... North-Western side of the camp. Look for... Corporal Ardal aep Skellan." Derrick burst out into a hearty laugh at the reply of their fellow Witcher. "I like you friend! Where have you been all this time? It'd have been great to have someone with your sense of humour!" He united his horse, noting that the Quen spell had been removed (Making assumption there). "If Veceslav's sense of humour was as good as his alchemy, it would have been more fun at the Kaer. No offence meant Vec." He was about to turn around any say something else that would have sent the whole group of them into peals of laughter, but Veera suddenly fell over and the Crow dumped the job of carrying her on him. And there were Ghouls now. "Must have come up from the sewers... There's a way up from them not far from here... Just our luck." Derrick grumbled as he hefted the weight that was Veera. Carrying her like this was going to be a pain in the ass, but luckily he had a horse. "Alright Veera, up you get. You're lucky. You get to sit down on the way out of here." He lifted Veera into the saddle and strapped her legs into the stirrups. "Now you stay conscious and guide my horse out." He said before drawing his crossbow. He patted it affectionately. You're getting so much use these days. I bet you're happy. He fired a bolt off, striking a ghoul between its ugly little eyes and dropping it instantly. He reloaded and followed the others out. He couldn't use a sword, but he could fight in other ways.
They arrived a little outside the city, deciding that it was rather more practical to walk into the city rather than enter by magic where they might attract a little more notice. After all, sorcerers and their companions arriving all of a sudden caused somewhat of a ruckus and that was attention they didn't want. Or at least, he didn't want right now. When they arrived at that area therefore, Adolin was able to spot not only the city, but something unusual as he was getting his bearings. There was a stone pillar some distance away. It must have been huge for them to be able to see it from such a distance. Alanna tapped his arm and he looked back at it and nodded. "Let's take a look. We wouldn't have missed it last time we were here." Adolin stated . "Yeah, no kidding. It appeared out of seemingly nowhere. We'd have noticed something like that being built. And well... It doesn't look like a real building you know? It's like a flat, smooth pillar." He nodded in agreement with his companion. He led the way towards it, taking a route across the roads as far as he could, but soon enough the road stopped heading in that direction and they had to take a bit of a rougher route across country. And as they did so, on the way to the mysterious pillar, which was beginning to be revealed to be a group of pillars, they spotted a man. He was haggard, looking tired and rough enough to have been through the Oxenfurt riots despite being here. "Reckon he has an idea?" "Yes Adoiin dear," Alanna rolled her eyes and started walking towards him. "I'll go ask him about it." She strode across the grassy field and held her hand up in a gesture of greetings to the man. The closer she got, the worse her impression of him became. His clothes were little more than rags, they were so worn she doubted he'd changed them for years. "Hello there!" She called out. "Any idea what the deal is with the sudden redesign of the local geography over there?" The village of Pontarsfork went on as it always did. The farmers did their duty, ignorant of riots and cullings and the affairs of sorcerers and other such people. That was not the concern of the people of Pontarsfork, who farmed on in blissful ignorance of the doom coming for them. Delaine and Corwyn served the hungry at the inn, while the last few drunk Nilfgaardians made their best effort to trudge their way back to their camp. Wilfred Hoover removed a new scythe blade from the forge and Boenn skinned his latest buck. Meanwhile, the soldiers of Nilfgaard looked to the woman riding up to them and so casually asking them questions. They looked at each other and back at Ellyn. "What do you want with a Nothern woman?" One of them, possibly the corporal of the group asked. "And why would you think to find her here?" "Doesn't sound like a bad plan. I'm worse for wear and well, thanks. I had no idea there was a refugee camp." Derrick replied, and before he knew it the vampire was gone. He sighed. It seemed to be a particular habit of his. Swooping in and out left and right heedless of other people. He did his best to ignore the bloodstains, knowing full well that there was no use in trying to discern anything from it. Whatever happened here was long since over, and since there was no body he was happy to assume that someone survived the ordeal. Whatever did happen here. With his blankets and papers collected, the Witcher hefted his back over his uninjured shoulder and headed out the room. As he was walking out, he heard a booming voice calling out. Any brothers here...? "Vec, Veera, there was a shout outside. Let's go." Derrick drew his silver sword, anticipating a Doppler attack of some sort. Right now, that was the best conclusion he could come to about who might have been shouting about brothers. When he did get outside to his horse, he could see that he was wrong. Very wrong. The opposite in fact. His medallion didn't vibrate, and a pair of cat's eyes identified the man as a fellow Witcher. "Yeah, two and a sister." He answered with his trademark smile, sheathing his sword and hitching his bags to the saddle. "You're a little late to the party, but I'm always pleased to see a fellow Witcher. I thought you were one of the thrice damned Dopplers terrorising the city with that shouting about brothers." He patted his horse affectionately and looked back at what he just realised was a pair. The girl though, was not a Witcher. She was probably dangerous though. She was armed, and in this bear of a man's company. An appropriate comparison, because a more detailed scan of him revealed he was of the Bear school. "Derrick of Kaedwen, at your service." He gave a bow with a little flourish of his uninjured arm. "How goes the Trail?"
