[@ERode][@AThousandCurses][@Psyker Landshark]

[b][h3]NORTHERN NERO ROAD[/h3][/b]

"I oughta knock your teeth out right now," Rio would remark as he finished the last of his soda, crushing the can and tossing it out the window behind him. Before anything could continue, however, the sound of breaking wood could be heard, as well as laughter. In the boys' carriage, Fianchetto took to rummaging through his bags as if looking for something important, while Kann tried to peer out one of the windows to see what was transpiring. Michael, of all things, remained asleep. Even with Davil's best efforts, he failed to so much as turn himself towards the doors, instead grumbling to passersby to, "Be careful," as Rio also took to the exit. From the girls' carriage, Chloe cautiously stepped outside after Alto, feeling all too vulnerable in her current state were danger to rear its head.

And to those who left, security mannekin included, danger would indeed be apparent. The mannekin drivers assigned to each carriage were smashed to pieces on the ground, with a [url=https://i.imgur.com/Lia3NET.jpg]burly horned man[/url] out in front, his dual axes glistening in the sunlight. Next to him, a [url=https://i.imgur.com/339tyNL.jpg]man of eastern dress[/url] withdrew a towel and began wiping the mannekin splinters off the horned man's axes with a satisfied smirk. All around the sides of the road stood rugged men in unwashed leather and torn fur garb - axes, swords and bows drawn as they stood at the ready.

The horned man would slam his axes to the ground, cracking it as his laughter ceased, and with it, the chuckles of the dozen or so men that surrounded the Wingram travelers. "A bit soon for the kids to be gettin' out of school," his voice would boom as he looked towards Alto, whose hand remained on his scabbard. "Goin' somewhere in a hurry? The heroes of tomorrow, playing hooky, mayhaps?"

Alto still did not answer, his eyes scanning from the man to his assistant, to the various brigands that surrounded not just himself, but any who would exit the carriages. He made sure, in particular, that any kids who exited wouldn't act rashly, and was prepared to move suddenly should any do so. The horned man, noting this anxious silence from Alto, continued. "Expensive thing, the training that goes into... Ethos, was it? Lotsa protection, and no doubt lots of rich kiddies who've never met the business end of a blade," he would chuckle while raising one of his axes to rest over his shoulder. "Lots of brats who don't know struggle. Ferg, what did you say an Ethos goes for, again?"

He would turn to the eastern-dressed man, who nodded as he tossed his towel onto the scraps of the carriage drivers and reached for his sheathed sword with an odd handle design. "For one who possesses an Ethos of even passing usefulness, a thousand gold would draw a roll of the eyes, my lord. I hear Rekordia is especially generous this time of year."

With a cackle, the horned man would spin both axes and point them in a wide, spanning motion across those who had stepped outside, including the security mannekin who had readied their weapons near the carriage doors. Alto's other hand slowly reached towards the handle of his sword as he glanced at the actions of his allies to ascertain how soon he should make his next move. His expression deepened upon hearing a mention of Ethos - clearly concerned as to how informed random highwaymen could be.

"And ol' Boss Kirn is in the mood for a payday. You fancy folk shouldn'a stepped outta bounds this time of year - it's OUR time! Toss away your weapons an' this'll be an easy life transition for y'all."

Chloe slowly stepped back towards the carriage doors, while Rio cracked his knuckles and looked towards his classmates as if curious who would be first to act among them. Some of the bandits slowly closed in with their axes and swords, while others stayed back and readied arrows or bolts. They seemed evenly divided on each side, with each group possessing four melee combatants and two ranged combatants, while the horned and eastern man remained in front of the carriages. Despite obliterating the driver mannekin, the horses pulling each carriage would appear unharmed.