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Post by redcoat on Jul 18, 2022 9:18:38 GMT -5
A two hour break- that's what she promised Taliesin, and what she'd give him. He seemed to think that she'd be trancing that night- fat chance, given the last time she had rested she'd woken up to additions to her body count.
Despite advice to seek out Alistair, she instead found a quiet place a little away from everyone, and dug out her tool roll to begin carving the dragon scale. First though, charcoal for a sketch.
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Post by Ancelas on Jul 18, 2022 9:29:13 GMT -5
About a half hour or so into her 'break,' Sae would catch sight of a visitor approaching - Alain, who had not refreshed his illusion since revealing himself to the party two nights ago. He looked more like Alastair's father now, and while his face was more lined, the burn scars visible on his neck and left hand, he still moved with a kind of vigor that seemed to spite his more worn appearance.
"Good evening, Captain," he greeted, bestowing a new title upon her. "Would you mind a bit of company as you work?"
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Post by redcoat on Jul 18, 2022 9:41:03 GMT -5
Sae looked up, arching an eyebrow at him, looking... bemused. "You are the second person this week to call me captain." She said, motioning to the empty space near her.
"Feel free to pull up some grass. Just carving a thing for Taliesin- he says he needs it to summon a dragon or... something."
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Post by Ancelas on Jul 18, 2022 10:00:07 GMT -5
"It suits you. I understand it's not an actual gunslinger rank, but... it feels appropriate."
He lowered himself down on the grass beside her with a sigh and looked over at the dragon scale. "Mm. I hope he does not mean to try and summon Ferrovax itself. It, eh... it might have some words to say about such an abrupt intrusion on its... lounging time. But another dragon, yes, why not? It seems like a step up from the owls he is so fond of.
"I'm glad to see you working at something else beside watching over the prisoners, truth be told."
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Post by redcoat on Jul 18, 2022 10:21:57 GMT -5
"Not a clue- my knowledge of the arcane begins and ends with summoning a very snuggly racoon." She said with another half smile, looking over the scale. She'd sketched in the thick lines of a dragon in flight- she liked the look of it, and so began to pull something out to start scoring the design.
"You and Taliesin both. But someone has to do it, and the lines in the Company are very clearly drawn between 'kill them all with a fireball or rockslide' and 'let them go'. Also the rod requires attunement." She shrugs.
"Can't really afford the security gap, given that they try to escape."
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Post by Ancelas on Jul 18, 2022 11:59:58 GMT -5
Alain nodded, agreeing with her. "Very true. I think you'll be able to get some rest tonight, though. Not having their eyes on you would be disconcerting, and as for guards... well, I know someone who can assist, though he is not as snuggly as your familiar."
Alain winked at Sae as the air around them seemed to grow colder, his shadow stretching further away from him as he spoke. A moment later a large vulpine paw reached out and planted itself on the ground just outside the edge of his shadow, followed by a leg, and then the rest of Nikatos' large, shaggy form. It was a little jarring to see the dark beast emerge from the smiling Alain's shadow, but neither seemed too perturbed.
Once emerged, Nikatos gave his bulk a great shake... and yawned, looking around. He sat down with his back to Alain and Sae and began licking the back of one paw.
"You deserve a chance to rest and reflect. Our first foray into the vale was a successful one, but... complicated."
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Post by redcoat on Jul 18, 2022 13:20:59 GMT -5
Sae watched Nikatos for a moment, clearly thinking for a moment before nodding. "He'll be a good relief watch." She agreed, looking down at the scale.
"I should have considered that some might surrender, and there'd be prisoners to deal with. I wasn't... trained for leadership. I lacked discipline and focus. Now I feel like I'm just cobbling it together as I go."
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Post by Ancelas on Jul 18, 2022 13:29:26 GMT -5
Alain nodded. "It's easier to deal with difficult decisions when someone else is making them. Less so when you have to be the one to make it. Especially when your enemy is... uncompromising."
Alain studied Sae's face. "How're you doing?"
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Post by redcoat on Jul 18, 2022 13:36:19 GMT -5
"I'll survive. I don't like being an executioner, and I've executed five men in about a week. Luthadel was restrained, magically, somehow- there's no other explanation for why he didn't fight back. The last four, well, you saw. At least those were clean, but..."
She sighed.
"It's not how I was taught to do things. Not with the Mareki, not with the gunslingers. And we can hand wave practice versus theory, but...."
She stared at the dragon scale in her hands.
"I don't like it. But I won't have it sit on anyone else either."
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Post by Ancelas on Jul 18, 2022 13:39:32 GMT -5
Alain nodded. "That's good. That you don't like it, I mean. I'd be worried if you did. You had to do a difficult thing... the struggle is part of it. I'm sorry you are in such a position to begin with, but... we can't always choose where we are needed."
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Post by redcoat on Jul 18, 2022 13:46:22 GMT -5
"No. And I told you that first time you traveled with us that I know what chess piece I am. I wouldn't want it any other way, either. I can't... even begin to imagine not doing this now. Sitting somewhere useless while the world tries to rip itself apart."
She shook her head, digging the chisel into the scale.
"I am where I am meant to be, and I'm beginning to think I'm good at it. Flexible enough to to bend with the storm, but strong enough to be blown over. I just wish there was a little less bending of my personal rules this week."
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Post by Ancelas on Jul 18, 2022 14:24:03 GMT -5
"I'm sorry you had to. Nothing weighs on you quite so heavily as scrutinizing your personal code." Alain turned his gaze out across their makeshift camp, simply observing everyone. Behind them, Nikatos rose and began to roam, startling some of the former captives as he passed. Alain smiled faintly at the sight, but made no comment on it, for the moment simply sitting beside Sae.
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Post by redcoat on Jul 19, 2022 7:29:45 GMT -5
"I'm flexible about a lot of things, but my own rules...." She sighed, shaking her head.
"And how are you holding up? It hasn't exactly been uneventful for you."
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Post by Ancelas on Jul 19, 2022 7:56:32 GMT -5
"Never trust someone who goes too easy on themselves," Alain mused. "If we don't feel the weight of our decisions, then we'll never learn from them."
He picked up a stone from the ground and tossed it idly away from them. "I'm... better than I thought I'd be, honestly. I'm afraid I'm failing to live up to my reputation as a liar - I've been surrounded by entirely too much truth lately, and have found it is as liberating as it is frustrating."
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Post by redcoat on Jul 19, 2022 7:59:59 GMT -5
Sae laughed at that- looking over to him from her work.
"Oh, that's Valor Company alright. Discretion is not one of our finer points, in any sense of the word. We get that from Alistair, I think. It's easier to lean into the batshit craziness of the truth than to try and get that boy to lie. I've certainly given up."
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