Once the speaker speaks, and people begin showing unweaponed hands, the archers stop firing at the LAV. The innkeeper is at first suspicious, but then smiles as more and more people get out of the LAV and the two trucks.
"Well, sorry! Your 'horseless carriage' sounds like a Sky Drakon with a grumbly stomach!" She looks over at the field with the animals. "Ayah! Go eat, no Drakon eat you!"
With the LAV and truck engines off, the animals begin to spread out cautiously from the protective enclosures.
"You want rooms and baths?" The innkeeper asks, obviously delighted to have a full house in the off season. The two guards look relieved they will not have to actually fight off a Drakon.
Brona groans as she steps out of the LAV. "I want a bath, as hot as you can get it without cooking me, hot food, and a soft bed!"
The innkeeper grins. "Can do!"
Scott gets out of the vehicle, glad that everything is all right and no one wants to kill them. And not accusing them of being a demon, for a change.
"Same as her for me." Grins Scott. "What you've got? I'd like some meat and vegetables."
"Sounds good to me, but I prefer my baths a little on medium warm. And I'll have what ever you recommend for food, before some shut eye."
Genie has some trouble getting the drone together, but eventually succeeds and sets it flying.
I'll grab some chow and a bath Jacob and then come out and spell you. I plan on sleeping in the vehicle. Turning to Calia Daniel asks Would you like to join me for dinner after we get cleaned up?
While everyone gets out of the vehicles and walks around, Debbs sets up the remote control for the drone, and after about 3 hours, manages to get it up and running. She only has time for a quick run before the sun begins to go down.
Calie watches the entire process intently, and then watches as the plane takes off. She follows it through the night sky, despite it's distance, her face moving in perfect synchronicity to the drone.
"So, your 'console' shouts specific gibberish at the small fake drakon, and the small fake drakon shouts back information about what it sees to your console?" She studies the screen. "I see the local country side, but it's black and white. Is that because it's almost night? Or is your drakon unable to see color? Ni'Bisharan are somewhat color blind ourselves, as you may have noticed, given our general taste for subdued colors, so we can be sure they match. Too much information in our eyes to handle color as well." She taps her temple. "I think I almost begin to understand your shouting on your 'radios'. You are not using them the way Bisharan would. You shout as loud as you can to be seen as far as possible, and then you modulate your shouts very subtly, rather than alter the tone of the shout. Is that because your devices are unable to 'hear' multiple tones at the same time? How do you keep your devices from attracting Drakons with it's cries?"
Debbs doesn't see much, some farms, a few dozen copse of trees scattered around, and the main road. There are other traveling groups on the road within a couple of miles.
---------------------------------
While Debbs is working with the drone, the Inn keeper begins to set people who want rooms up with them. The local rate appears to be 1 gold per night per person per room for a private room, 5 silvers per night to sleep in the common room, and that includes one meal. Additional meals are 2 copper apiece with water. Each tankard of ale is 1 copper, a bottle of wine is a gold piece. Each hot bath is 1 gold piece, 1 gold 5 silver if you want someone to scrub your back. If you want one of the tavern wenches to join you in the tub that's 10 gold
The meal tonight will be freshly butchered mutton (there is enough in the group paying for rooms and food and baths that the innkeeper can afford to kill a sheep). Brona did help by promising the group would pay for the cow if they didn't make enough. The innkeeper's son leads one of the sheep into the second barn to butcher it.
Canned vegetables from the stock room are added to pickled fish, pickled garden drakon, and freshly baked bread and a firm hard bluish colored cheese. The vegetables are not what the Earther's are used to, but they are flavorful. The bluish cheese has a sharp strong taste, and apparently comes from lizard milk, not beef or sheep milk.
Apparently word that outlanders are at inn begins to filter out, because by the time Debbs is done with her recon efforts, about a dozen locals have meandered in for an evening meal, all staring at the vehicles and such curiously.
Debbs gives Calie a double-take when she mentions attracting drakons, and almost drops the control module.
"Er, what? You think the machines will attract drakons? Like big ones or little ones? We don't have drakons in our world, so that's not a problem there. How far away can you see the machines "shouting"?"
Jesus H. Christmas, if radio chatter attracts dragons, we are in some seriously deep s&#*.
Calie looks thoughtful. "Well, I can see your small things from a few miles away, although the further I am from them, the more likely I am to miss them. Your small machine here I do not know, it is rather loud. Your base is visible for many hundreds of miles. I had thought you realized? I have been mentioning that I could see them for weeks now, many things can."
Scott doesn't like cheese of Earth (unless it's pizza), and so doesn't even try the strange blue one. But the meat and the vegetables he eats with pleasure.
"Quite a crowd. I feel like a star. What about you guys?"
Debbs only grows more concerned as she continues her conversation with Calie. She tries her best to hit all her waypoints while controlling the uav, but can't get the thought of dragons out of her mind.
"Just how big do these dragons get? We have lizards and reptiles in our world that can grow pretty big, big enough to take down a single person. Do they get bigger than that?"
Calie motions toward the cargo truck. "I have seen an Elder Drakon that could pick up your cargo truck, but those are fairly rare. The Empire has Drakon-Force that use drakon's about the size of your Ell Aye Vee. A wild Drakon could range from the size of a dog to the three or four times the size of your Ell Aye Vee."
Debbs nods. "And these dragons, do they have other abilities? Do they fly or burrow in the ground, or have toxic blood like you? How are they used by the Drakon-Force? They must not be too common, or we would have encountered one so far, don't you think?"
She then clears her throat and focuses on bringing in the UAV.
"Sorry for all the questions, Calie, but it seems like for every thing we learn about this world, we discover ten more things we didn't know and that give us serious concern."
"There are Sky Drakons, Fire Drakons, Water Drakons, and Land Drakons. The Empire uses Sky and Land Drakons. Your forces were damaged by sky and land drakons. They are not common, but they are not rare either. Sky Drakons breath flame and acid, but their blood is not acidic. Land Drakon's cannot fly, and have thick heavy hides. Fire Drakon's burn with a touch, and breath fire. Water Drakon's live in the ocean, and breath very hot steam. They can cook a man in less time than it takes to count to 10."
I'm kinda surprised. I can see a bonfire from a long ways away, at night. In the day I can't see it from as far. I can see a flashlight pretty close up in the day, but at night it's further away.
Our radios operate at frequencies of 300 to 30 terahertz. "radio waves are 1000 megahertz to 50 megahertz.
The reason our radios have an antenna that's a meter long is because the signal of the radio wave is around 1 meter for VHF channels. That's also why a submarine trails out an antenna that's really long. It's really amazing, and probably has a lot to do with this magic stuff that they can even process any type of signal. Dawn points back at the LAV's whip antenna's, they're long to generate the signal to reach distances.
What I'm wondering is how far into the spectrum they can see. We can't see infrared or ultraviolet, which is just above and below the visible spectrum. Can they see microwaves?
I'll grab some chow and a bath Jacob and then come out and spell you. I plan on sleeping in the vehicle. Turning to Calia Daniel asks Would you like to join me for dinner after we get cleaned up?
Calia tilts her head, and nods. "Certainly, after I watch the 'drone' if you don't mind?"
I'm kinda surprised. I can see a bonfire from a long ways away, at night. In the day I can't see it from as far. I can see a flashlight pretty close up in the day, but at night it's further away.
Our radios operate at frequencies of 300 to 30 terahertz. "radio waves are 1000 megahertz to 50 megahertz.
The reason our radios have an antenna that's a meter long is because the signal of the radio wave is around 1 meter for VHF channels. That's also why a submarine trails out an antenna that's really long. It's really amazing, and probably has a lot to do with this magic stuff that they can even process any type of signal. Dawn points back at the LAV's whip antenna's, they're long to generate the signal to reach distances.
What I'm wondering is how far into the spectrum they can see. We can't see infrared or ultraviolet, which is just above and below the visible spectrum. Can they see microwaves?
Calia shrugs. "You may have trouble seeing a campfire during the day, or a flashlight, if it is steady. But if it blinks, or changes color, or moves around, is it not easier to see?"
She looks thoughtful. "I am unsure of all your other questions. I can see at night when no one else can. And if by 'microwaves' you mean those things you heat up the popcorn in at your base, they are very annoying and hurt my eyes if I look at them while they are on."
The rest of the crew go in and join the dinner.
Calia takes a seat at a smaller table with Daniel, and eats like a horse. Between bites, she explains that Ni'Bisharan have to eat a lot of calories because of their dual heritage. Apparently the human body is not designed well, and doesn't provide as much energy as Bisharan bodies do, so she's constantly hungry. She hadn't eaten in two days when the group found her, and she'd been starving already when they freed her, she likely wouldn't have survived the trip to the slaver city up the coast.
Brona, freshly washed up and with still slightly damp hair, sits at a table with Debbs, Laine, and Scott. As she digs into her own food with a wolfish appetite, she overhears Calia talking about Ni'Bisharan's needing lots of calories. She laughs. "I just like to eat, lot. Have work really hard not be fat. Not know how you all not be fat, never walk anywhere, always sit all time." Indeed, the other occupants of the tavern are all eating fairly large high calorie meals. The men tend toward heavy musculature with not a lot of fat on them, the women also tend toward muscles and slim builds. Looking around, it's quite apparent that everyone in the tavern has to work gruelingly every day. One individual to the side is massively muscled, and would fit right in at a body building competition back home. His arms are as bit around as most of the army people's thighs. The burn scars on his arms, and the leather cuffs on his wrists, mark him as a black smith (the heavy steel hammer on his hip doesn't hurt in the identification either). His hair is shorn away, leaving a gleaming sooty scalp on display.
Dawn and Jacob end up at a larger table with mostly other army folk. A boy about 14 or 15 and a girl slightly older also sit at the table, as it's the largest table in the inn room, and also the only one available when they come in to eat. Both are dressed in stiff cotton clothes with leather trim. Neither speak to the army folks, both apparently content to eat in silence.
Dawn spends the dinner filling in the rest of her platoon on what she learned from Calia about the Ni'Bisharans and drakons being able to see into the electromagnetic spectrum.
"Seems like we will have to start looking for alternate means of communication if we know others of their kind are present, and we certainly don't want to attract these drakons, especially one of the large ones."
The engineer mulls over what their communication options are, given the equipment they are carrying.
So Jacob, I see a lot of opportunity here. Just look around. We might get some brownie points just by introducing some new ways to do labor intensive jobs. I also want to work on building an anti-drakon device. If these creatures are attracted to radio signals, that would mean that something in nature here broadcasts radio waves that are seen as food, shelter, or some other resource. No other reason for it that I can think of.
Dawn thinks back now considering the tasks she has seen people doing. She can already think of a couple of things she'd like to check at the blacksmith shop. She wasn't a farmer, but how they irrigate and harvest might be something to look at.
Watching Calia eat, Daniel smiles and rakes off about half his food onto her plate. We do sit too much. I prefer to be on foot in nature when I can be. Riding in these "beasts" as the locals call them is necessary but not my desire. he explains as he eats slowly. You and I could take a walk outside the walls later if you like. he adds.
Debbs cant' see any way not to broadcast if using a radio, as the very concept of a radio is to broadcast radio waves. They might be able to use tight beam microwaves from tower to tower, but they'd still be 'visible'. It's not something humans have ever had to worry about before.
Calia nods. "Certainly, if you like." She continues to wolf down food. "Although I'm not sure you'll be able to see very well, tonight is the night the of the Weeping Mother. The Silver Mother is hidden from view and the Wayward Daughter is hiding behind her skirts, so there will be little light tonight. It's also known as the Bandit's Dream, as more thefts occur on these nights, there are two per year, than on any other days of the year."
Just then, the door to the inn slams open, and two knights in full armor with red crests on their helms step into the tavern. All conversation slams to a halt, and the occupants of the room visibly have a surge of fear and tension.
"In the name of the Emperor, this Tavern is now under our jurisdiction." The knight in the goldenish armor states, slamming the butt of his great axe into the floor of the tavern.
Behind him, the other knight steps in and brings up a large crossbow covering the room. "Now now folks, no need to get dead." The second knight says in a honeyed voice. "We're just looking for a couple of miscreants, as soon as we find them, we'll leave you to eat in peace."
The two kids at the table with Dawn and Jacob are very pale at the moment.
Calia looks up from her table, and smiles. "Oh my, a Pair of Elite Imperial Knights. May one as inferior as this one ask why such lofty nobles are so far from home, in another country, looking for miscreants?" She asks, dimples showing. Brona stiffens at her words.
I see better than most of my kind in the dark. Daniel responds. And you? Is darkvision one more of your talents?
As the men burst in Daniel's hand goes, under the table, to his sidearm. But when Calia speaks he calms a little. Just to be clear. he adds Are you saying that these two have no legal enforcement power here, and that taking the boys would be tantamount to kidnapping?
Calia whispers...
"No, I am saying that they are Elite Knights, the ones I told you about, who are equal to me in power. They go where they want..." She says softly, moving her lips as little as possible while speaking through her breath.
Dawn had turned to stare at the two newcomers, totally missing any reaction from the two kids sitting at the table. Her hadn also slide down to her holster
In a stage whisper Dawn says to Jacob in common, Ooh, the one with a crossbow is cute!
Genie takes a look around to the room to see how many possible exit points their group might have, and how easy it might be to get the boys out safely.
Daniel whispers back But if they are from some other nation they would not have legal enforcement powers here, right?
"Someone always comes along to ruin the dinner, not that I could really eat any more anyway. I don't have an appetite like these people." Laine says looking around to see what the others and doing and also keep an eye on the two knights.
"If they do have legal power here, I see no reason to interfere, unless it's us they're looking for," Scott whispers to his squad.
Brona gives Scott an odd look. "Since when legal stop anyone with power?" She asks in a whisper, sounding shocked at Scott's naivete.
The Knight with the cross-bow tenses suddenly. "Bisharan halfbreed, Amos." He says, his crossbow suddenly trained directly on Calia.
The knight with the axe makes a humph noise. "If she moves, put the b#%+# down."
Calia tilts her head. "Did you just really call me that?"
The knight growls. "Shut up demon spawn."
Calia stands, putting a hand on her sword hilt. "Oh no, you've offered me insult, coward, let's step outside and settle matters."
The knight with the axe motions to his companion. "Put her down."
The knight with the crossbow hesitates. "Sir, if you order me to, I will of course, but it was a challenge... if he hears you turned it down..." The knight shrugs, his armor clanking lightly.
The one with the axe turns to his companion, his axe coming up. "And just who would tell him? You?"
The crossbow knight shakes his head. "No sir, rumor would, unless you plan on executing everyone in the inn sir, which would I think be even worse?"
The axe knight hesitates for ten heartbeats, then laughs. "Fine, I could use a work out. Come on b%#*@, let's go remove that head from your body, see if that improves your company." He turns and stomps out the front door.
Calia smiles, and says aloud. "I'll be outside with the other knight, do make sure you don't get killed by this one. Despite what he said, he might kill bystanders if he thinks it'll be better than not killing them."
Once she walks out past the crossbow knight, he levels the crossbow at the room in general. "Ok, now that that is out of the way, you two, get up and let's get ready to go. You know who is... annoyed... with you." He says to the children sitting next to Dawn and Jacob and Laine
I thought we made it clear that you have no authority here, knight or no. Taking these children is dishonorable and is kidnapping where I come from. At the very least you should first speak with their parents. Can you share why they are wanted and where you want to take them? Daniel stands but does not reach for a weapon.
Keeping her eyes on the remaining knight, Debbs slowly moves toward the children as if to help the knight collect them. As she moves behind them, she unholsters her sidearm, using their bodies to block the movement from the knight's sight. She then keeps it hidden behind their backs and her body, but makes no further movement.
Dawn picks her mug up and takes a drink while she slowly unsnaps her holster under sight of the table.
Laine is keeping an eye on the situation, ready to spring into action when the signal is given.
"I..." Scott starts to say something but drops the subject with a sigh and shakes his head.
He leans back on the chair and puts his hand on his legs. One closer to the holster.
As Jacob stands up, the man with the cross-bow doesn't hesitate, he fires at Jacob immediately. There's a loud twang!
The knight's reaction is nearly superhumanly quick, and his crossbow is obviously no normal cross-bow, as another bolt appears in it, and the arm ratchets back almost instantly on it's own. He then continues to fire at Jacob, multiple bolts appearing in the crossbow as fast as the knight pulls the activator on it!
"S%$#!" Scott jumps up from the chair, unholsters the pistol and shoots the knight.