As Aleria approaches, Ra'hl's crimson eyes lock with hers. He keeps seated at the table listening, his own rage building as she screams at him. Aleria easily seeing the crimson pools change shade to a golden serpentlike iris as his rage builds. Ra'hl shoves his hands into his lap, digging his claws into his knees trying to suppress the anger building inside him. Her words ring out without a response for a few moments before Ra'hl can bring himself to reply.
When he finally gains control over his faculties, the golden iris's are one again replaced by his unnatural looking crimson orbs. He lets out a deep calming breath and speaks in a surprisingly gentle and calm voice, quite contrary to her own tone. "I am aware of all that you say, and have deferred to your own and the others expertise in these lands. If you are unhappy with my suggest, I shall gladly yield my opinion to yours as soon as you give it. I am honestly not experienced enough to understand how my suggest has endangered out mission, and would be happy to learn from my mistake."
He lets the words linger before continuing, "I shall also apologize for not aiding the group enough. It was never my intention to make myself out to be better than you. My intention all along was to aid you , or as you put it, 'be one of you.' So please, do tell, what offence have I committed that has caused distention or mistrust in the group? What words have I spoken that have offended the group so? Have I called someone names or threatened them harm in some way that I was unaware of? If so I can certainly see how I have allowed my presuppositions and misgiving to threaten the continuation of this company."
Ra'hl never breaks eye contact with Aleria. His voice never raising as he attempts to argue his case. Not that she accept him. He wishes her only to give him a chance.
Aleria gets through her tirade, having been distracted by the conviction of her words, and hears Ra'hl, though her eyes are wide and not totally aware of what he is saying.
When he finishes speaking, her voice is very soft though her eyes keep their deadly focus on him. "What..., are you?"
Ra'hl's face softens as a small smile overtakes his lips. "I told you," he says reaching for his arms. "The clothes are nothing more than an illusion." Shifting his sleeves, the finery and furs vanish from sight, revealing Aleria's fingers to be pressed into a quality shirt of chain armor. Drawing his sleeves back over his arms Ra'hl lets his eyes break from hers and fall to her body. Studying her clothes, as a similar garb appears on him. A ranger's tunic in dark forest greens, his own outfit removes her devotion to Erastil, and shifts a few key features into a more traditionally masculine suit.
Ra'hl's eyes rise to meet her once more. "Better?" he questions her in all sincerity.
Aleria watches in wonder for a moment. Finally Ra'hl's question jolts her mind back into place. She notices his gaze falling and her face flushes deeper and eyes burn just a bit more than before. She looks up at him. "So far as I am concerned, I see no fault with the suggestions for a division."
She draws her finger back, and looks up at him. She glares at him for a moment. "This is for the eyes." Instead of her hand resting and going about other business, it swings up in an arc at his cheek to slap him.
Seeing Aleria suddenly explode before here eyes, Natasha watches the unfolding scene patiently after a brief moment of extreme startlement.
But when Aleria's hand strikes the man's cheek, she suddenly jumps up, bumbing agains the table in the process and spilling some drinks. She grabs Aleria's arm in an iron grip. "Stop. We don't need to do the bandits' work ourself. I suggest you take a walk to calm down."
Her voice is emotionless and she lets loose the woman's arm after she has the impression no violence is to be expected.
Although she didn't use much force, her fingernails have left some shallow marks on Aleria's skin.
He stands stunned, unsure what she meant by "the eyes." The imprint of her hand glows red on his cheek and he is startled at the young ladies strength. His mind reels questions of what he did to deserve the slap, but he keeps them contained in his mind unanswered.
The tone of the conversation puts Cuddles on guard. The slap sets him off. He stands to his full height and roars like only a full blooded orc can. After several seconds, the roar forms rough, heavily accented words, YOU NO FIGHT! NO HERE! WANT FIGHT? GO FRONT! YOU TEAM? NO FIGHT! HUG. HUGS IMPORTANT. TEAM IMPORTANT. TEAM SAVE LIFE. NOT YOU. NOT YOU. NO FIGHT. NO.
This is why I tend to avoid people, everything is much too loud.
He thinks to himself, wincing at Alerias words and then nearly jumping out of his seat at the noise Cuddles could produce.
Walking up behind Natasha, doing his best to avoid any wriggling bodies, he stands on his toes Gods, she is tall trying to talk to her over the din, he raises his voice some.
"I'm going to go fetch my horse and Saber."
Then he quickly trots out the front before things get any worse off towards the small thicket that he had left the two in.
Breathing in the fresh air as he continues jogging he relaxes a little his entire body on edge from all of the commotion.
Ra'hl is caught off guard by the Orc's words, having changed the whole tone of the conversation. Ra'hl almost smiles at such an unexpected reaction.
"No, I think not Cuddles. If I were to try hugging her I would likely end up with a blade in my gut, or worse."
That smug little bastard! Arrogant, Condescending Git! Overindulgent, self important, scruffy looking, golden eyed, inbred, Lecherous deviant! Now I know what it was, it isn't every day your see a horse stride in with two asses. I swear I'll..., ooooUUugghhhh!
Aleria glares at Ra'hl for a moment before looking at Natasha, her arm firm in her grasp. She shoots her gaze between the pair till Cuddles starts roaring out at her. Her eyes go wide at the orc, and she sighs, her frustration rising. She finally shakes her arm free of Natasha, and lets out a frustrated hiss, spinning on her heels to stalk off.
She grabs her bow and heads over to the trading post walls to do a perimeter sweep and walk off some of her frustrations.
Waiting until well after Aleria has passed through the gate, Ra'hl will finally stand making his way over to Natasha's table. He picks up the mugs and glasses that were overturned removing them up and clearing the table. His head lifts silently searching the tables until he finds a cloth sitting on one and takes it, using it to soak the spilled liquids.
He remains quiet, and contemplative as her works. To an untrained eye, it would seem her words didn't affect him, but in truth, shes just another in a long line that passes judgement upon him based on name and heritage alone.
"Hopefully she's just a hissing kettle. I hate to think how this trip will be if camp is just as dangerous to my life as the wilderness will be."
Osk can barely contain the sigh he lets out as he rolls his eyes and follows Mattrim out of the lodge and into the yard.
Oleg, Kasten, I need to talk to you a bit more about this plan to build along the northern wall...
The marshall's voice fades as he moves on to other items meanwhile Svetlana appears suddenly as if from the aether and starts grabbing plates, platters, spilled mugs and so on, Could you all not fight in my lodge? In fact, why don't all of you get out of here. I need to scrub everything down though I suspect Cuddles has helped me clean the floor from what I could see... The woman just as promptly disappears to the other side of the lodge, content to keep talking about wanting everyone to leave but not directing her words to anyone...
Duška sighs as the conversation grows more antagonistic and heated;
Ayi! Maminka... Maybe they are more like the bandits that they would think!
She winces as hands are raised and tempers both mundane and mystical flair. Then internally curses as Mattrim heads for the relative quiet of outside...
The lithe half elf grabs a piece of bread and sighs once again, letting a short time pass (and footsteps fade) before she too takes her leave, silently moving from the room and the ruckus being caused.
Outside Duška looks to a quiet spot and surveys the courtyard and the fort with troubled eyes:
The Stag Lord will not see this place untouched. It is a prize to him... A strong chest, that while trapped, holds rich spoils. Break the chest. Disarm the traps. Reap the reward...
Mattrim continues on trotting (double moving) towards Saber and the horses location.
Saber sits low, tensing his body as he observes the Two-Legs. He prepares to attack if they start to harass the horse as Two-Legged-Pack-Brother ordered.
Natasha watches Ra'hl with worry in her eyes as he picks up what she had spilled, then lets herself get scurried away by Svetlana, following Duska outside. Throwing a warm smile towards Cuddles on the way.
She approaches the elf openly, and halts besides her. "So you were a bandit once? As you are here, I won't hold this against you unless you give me a reason." She lets the words sink in, then continues. "Did you do the dirty work in these parts by any chance and know some of these cutthroats?"
Cuddles frowns. That didn't work as he thought it would. Maybe they aren't a team yet. Not a tribe. That's the only explanation.
Cuddles starts moving around and cleaning up in his own way, which mostly involved eating the scraps. He then his outside and fits his chores. Wood is chopped and stacked. Hay is restocked. Then several massive logs are hauled from where they lay at their stumps back to the post, leaving grooves in the earth to mark their passing.
The chaos confuses and intimidates Anton, but as he looks around, his tea spills a few drops onto his book, then more as he realizes what he's done and attempts to correct. He busies himself with mopping it up using a scrap of parchment, blocking out the hostility around him. They'd wear themselves out soon enough, and then maybe they could get some work done.
Ra'hl complies with Svetlana's insistence they leave and steps outside. Seeing cuddles dragging the logs, Ra'hl moves to assist him. He grabs the back struggling to carry the logs compared to the ease with which Cuddles is lifting them. Ra'hl tries to keep up with the orc's incredible strength, and managers to push through until the orc finally stops.
Cuddles works for several hours without slowing. He recognizes Rahl and uses pointing and features to help the smaller man make the best use of his strength.
Eventually Cuddles stops under a little thicket of trees and products a large water skin. He offers it to Real first.
He starts to speak in Orc, but catches himself and switches to common. YOU WORK GOOD FOR BOOK MAN.
Ra'hl takes the water gladly, panting heavily as he pours the liquid down his throat. "Thank you," Ra'hl says handing the waterskin back to the Orc. "I hope I wasn't too much of a burden. I clearly don't have your strength. Though I'm certainly no scholar compared to your wizard friend. I guess we all have our place." At this point Ra'hl's not even truely speaking to the Orc, more musing to himself out loud. He stares at the Orc again, curious how much he understands.
"Aleria, will she try to kill me?" Ra'hl asks. His tone more curious than fearful.
Cuddles gets the gist of Rhal's ramblings. The question is better understood. He thinks for a moment, forming the common words.
FOREST PRIEST GIRL ALERIA PROTECTS. PROTECT FOREST. PROTECT PEOPLE. SHE SMELLS THREAT IN YOU. KILL? I THINK NO. RAGE AS STORM OF FOREST GOD. YES. SHE NEEDS PROTECT YOU. YOU NEEDS PROTECT OTHERS. THEN SHE HAPPY. MAYBE.
Ra'hl is quiet trying to process the unique way Cuddles speaks. When he finally understands he smiles. "Maybe is good enough for me."
Duška takes in the tall woman's questions with an almost alien stoicalness playing across her elven face;
"Yes. Once a bandit. No longer... My Táta... "father' was a noble bandit if there can be such a thing... He opposed the rich... the nobles... the merchants... Took from them. Gave to those without..."
The lithe ranger's words trail off as they follow her thoughts, then fey eyes refocus and her accented voice lowers to a whisper;
"I... Sorry you are of noble krev... blood yes? I wished to be like him. A hero of the people yes? The bandits I found... The Shallow Graven were not like that. Bad people who did bad things. The Stag Lord? I heard tale of him. Our chief, Sour Veck, told gleeful firecamp tales of his evil, but no I know little of the gangs who bended their knee to this King of Cutthroats... Veck is dead, as is old Fallenoak... but the Nettle twins and Krunnd may live yet..."
She muses on these words further as she watches the fort life bustle, before once again speaking:
"I will fell those who meet us with force Mistress Medvyed. Familiar or no. The Hunter does not trust me... perhaps none of you do. I would not trust me yes? A wild thing with fey in her soul and blood on her hands... but I understand our quarry. The Stag Lord will come for us... I would have..."
Despite being slightly unsuited for the coloration of the terrain Saber manages to hunker down in the meager bush unseen and wait. Two horses come clearer into view of the tiger and though the cat clearly doesn't grasp all the words the men are saying he can read the intention clear enough with wide gestures and conversation as they approach Mattrim's horse. They intend to at least check it and probably take it...
Mattrim continues running on, oblivious.
Saber on the other hand lets out a loud growl, circling around and stepping in between the men and the horse (or trying to).
"Yes, I fear it will take some work to show Mattrim you have noble intentions. I see them clearly, as you stand here eager to prove your worth, eager to redeem yourself. I will not judge you by what you did, as you surely were judged of this already. You were given the charter with a reason after all, and we shall use your abilities to secure the lands." A slight smile appears on Natasha's face.
She watches Ra'hl and Cuddles working together for a few moments and then continues.
"I think once all have had time to get accustomed to each other, we will be able to get over our differences. I see a lot of temper running rampant here, but it's always the same at the beginning with a bunch of strangers."
"And don't worry about my noble blood. Speak freely. I might be noble born, but I never felt as if I truly belonged in the great mansion that was my home. While I do not approve of banditry, you father at least had ideals and a sense of community."
Duška listens to the towering woman speak wisely, as she does so her eyes curiously take in the countenance of this imposing warrior;
:
Something about Natasha... perhaps fey? Something else... yes...
The ranger nods and counters with her own smile;
"He did Mistress..."
Ayi! Just ask her!
Gazing up at Natasha, the lithe half elf nods towards the prodigious claws on the cavaliers hands
"Mistress if I may? I have seen claws such as those before. The Nettle twins... Foul sisters who I ran with in the Graven... They were... Dcery of čarodějnice... um... 'Daughters of the hag'... Are you such blooded?"
Mattrim moves along. He does, however, suddenly hear a loud yelp in the direction he left Saber...
Saber emerges from his brush and plainly puts himself between the mare and the men, issuing a very clear challenge. One cannot help himself and stumbles back a few feet fumbling for a weapon and letting out a loud yelp. The other one sneers, however, and pulls a longsword in response uttering something in a low tone which Saber knows fully well is a threat...
:
None the wiser Duška continues to converse with Natasha...
Ra'hl's left ear itches slightly.
Aleria keeps her perimeter sweep going, taking a decent walk outside of the walls of Oleg's, trying to let some of the steam of the fight cool. I don't know what I am going to do with him.
Aleria looks up a moment, as she swore she heard something, but then frowns and sighs, assuming it was her imagination and starts widening her circut of the trading post. Maybe getting away from there for a bit would be good.
Saber goes "RAWWRRR!!!
Saber coils his muscles bringing himself low to spring at the Two-Legs who drew the sword.
Aleria's eyes cast back, snapping to the northeast. No..., that wasn't my imagination..., that was. ...Mattrim..., his cat!
Aleria starts to move deftly, melting into the underbrush as she makes her way along, moving as quickly as she can while trying to maintain her cover in the trees and brush of the forest. She quickly draws an arrow, knocking it on her bow as she keeps her eyes forward and searching for targets.
Cuddles perks up. One did not hear a roar like that in these woods. Could it be that the kitty that hunter man was going to get was in trouble? He stands and sprints off through the woods. Where normal people dodge smaller brush, those who follow find that cuddles preferred route is Through, and they have a nice trail waiting for them.
Ra'hl hears the roar and sees Cuddles taking off in that direction. Ra'hl starts after the orc amazingly able to keep up with him step for step.
Mattrim will activate the animal focus calling upon the speed of the stag (+5 feet movement boost) and start running (100 feet/round) drawing his Falchion as he goes.
Saber bites and claws at the bandit. The man is nimble though still unbalanced from the charge and one of the cat's claws hits him. He lets out a loud yell. The second bandit finds his courage but loses any firm footing and charges blindly and wildly almost bowling into the fight rather than join it.
The chaos is enough to throw Saber off and the first bandit capitalizes finding a particularly vulnerable spot on the large cat's shoulder.The longsword bites deeply, narrowly missing vital tissue. Saber instinctually roars from the pain.
Aleria pauses and orients, moving assuredly and checking the ground to see where Mattrim was headed. The tracks are fresh and the cleric starts to move once more when quite suddenly Cuddles, with Ra'hl in tow, explode on the scene charging past Aleria and off after the hunter...
"Elkfather's horns..." Aleria curses as she takes off after the pair, following a rather large hole being left by Cuddles as he barrels through the forest.
Aleria has her bow at the ready, arrow knocked as she sprints after the others, rushing to aid the cat and hunter. Prepared to fire if she can get a good look at anyone.
:
Duška hears a yell, then a loud roar, as Cuddles and Ra'hl bolt outwith the forts walls;
The ranger grabs her bow and runs toward the sound, shouting to the remaining band as she does:
"Look to the walls! Look to the Wild!"
:
Hearing Duska's question, Natasha seems to recoil a bit, but finds her composure again soon. She fiddles nervously with her hands, not really sure what do with them and settles on crossing her arms - which might come off a bit aggressive even if unintentionally.
"You seem to know much about the forest and what dwells within. I do not meet many who recognize me as what I am, most who know learned it from rumors and other tales instead and come at me with hostility.
But yes, you are right. My mother was no human woman but a monster."
She loses some of the tension that has built up in her with these words and realized her posture has become tense. She pulls out her arms again and regards one of her hands.
"I have much of her in me, but I refuse to hear her call. She tried to take me with her once to the swampy heart of this forest, and she will try again. But I will not allow it as long as I live. I am .."
She stops in mid-sentence as Duska suddenly picks up her weapon and rushes off, followed by Cuddles and Ra'hl storming off towards the forest with an incredible speed. Without a second thought she draws her sword and follows.
Mattrim seeing Saber get hit lets out a furious war cry, yelling vehement threats at the men. "I'm coming for you, you scum!!
And then continues running.
Saber becomes uncertain after a vital hit lands against him before feeling a brief link with Two-Legged-Pack-Brother form, his muscles tightening as their strength increases. With renewed fervor from the thought of Two-Legged-Path-Brother being close he lashes out at the man again (same person as first).