[IC] Fall of Vedrus

[RangerOfTheRit]

Leo took a bite of his venison and chuckled at Crim's ferocious hunger. "You're like me on a full moon."

[SaikaAnge]

Crim blushed and slowed down, trying to look like a lady. "Sorry," she finished her drink and set the cup on the ground next to her foot.

[RangerOfTheRit]

Abandoning his manners to make Crim feel better, and because he was starving since he hadnt eaten since before Favorstead, Leo shoved the rest of the bread loaf in his mouth, then started cramming the cheese and then the potatoes and finally he finished the venison, before washing it all down with the rest of his beer. He swallowed with a gulp and looked at the people around the fire. They were all staring at him like he'd eaten a baby. "What?" he asked incredulously before everyone started laughing and he joined with them.

[SaikaAnge]

Crim laughed and smiled. "Thank you," she kissed his cheek and went back to the tent. "Im gonna wake Seralth and put on my boots. You should find out when were leaving for the next town." she called back.

[Tack]

The Countess Heidra va Rastenbruck held her head high as she limped into the camp, trying her best to avoid being incident after escaping from the morgue. Her body was quickly crumbling and her flesh had already entered an advanced state of decay: she needed a healer, one skilled in dragon lore, before her body decomposes to the point of uselessness. She felt the pull of the dragon tug her toward Crim's tent, which she silently entered.

"You are a...dragon priestess, I presume?" Heidra croaked in a grating voice. She was not used to speaking. "I need your assistance. I am...wounded, and in need of a healer. Only you will do."

[SaikaAnge]

"Only me? Im a bit injured myself, but I can see what I can do." she smiled slightly and motioned the woman to a chair. "Im Crim, you should know before I do anything." she looked at the woman and began to heal as much as she could before her chest reopened and began to bleed again.
"That's all I can do for now. Im sorry, I hope that helps."

[RangerOfTheRit]

Leo opened the flap to the tent and saw a shambling corpse talking to Crim. He drew his dagger and placed it against the Undead's throat. "And what can we be doing for you today friend?" he asked menacingly.

[Tack]

The healing was not much, but it was enough for Heidra to shore up the remaining cracks in her bodily composition. That is until the half-elf came up to her and pressed his knife on the executioner's axe first severed her head from her body. She winced.

"That is Your Grace to you, commoner. Who are you then, only the son of a ranger? Well, I am Heidra va Rastenbruck, first of her name and rightful Countess of Orrinnfell." She paused. "I wish to form an alliance with you."

[SaikaAnge]

Crim moved the dagger and stepped in front of her. "Leo, its alright. She's not here to hurt anyone. She needed healing." she put her hands up to shoulder height. "Easy,"

[Tack]

Heidra passed her undead stare back and forth from Crim to Leo. "I was in the Ironbane caravan near Duplil, do you recall? The Ironbanes had stolen something of...mine. They captured me. I am no enemy of yours."

[RangerOfTheRit]

Leo nodded, lowering his dagger. He spun it with skill and slid it back into its sheathe in one motion. "Well it seems as if you're no longer a countess of anything besides a crypt and here in camp, i'm king. So watch your tongue before i have you flogged by my Rangers. Or whats left of you anyway." Leo snarled, the green in his eyes overtaking the white for just a second, revealing his wolf eyes. "Now, Countess Rotgut or whatever your name was, whats this about an alliance?"

[SaikaAnge]

Crim crossed her arms and looked at Leo. "Be polite." she said before picking up her dragon. "No need to be rude. No harm was done."

[Tack]

"Flog me all you want, gutterborn. Pain is not exactly a thing I have to worry about anymore." She rose from her seat and composed herself. "You did something for me, I shall do something for you. We both can help each other to get what we want. I've been gathering intelligence on the Ironbanes for months now--I've monitored their troop movements, spied on their encampments, and even read some of their battleplans. I can provide you information on the Ironbanes, and perhaps even more if you'll keep me as an agent. In return for my services, I merely wish to be restored to my ancestral birthright when the war is over and the Goldenblades are victorious."

[SaikaAnge]

Crim whistled and Seralth hung in the air in front of Heidra. She stood in front of Leo. "You both keep bad mouthing each other and I will deal with you myself. Please be polite. You may be highborn Heidra, but as a guest in this camp, I ask you to be respectful."

[RangerOfTheRit]

"I dont care what shiteholes you nobles claim after the war is won. You give me the information and i'll leave the politics to you." Leo looked to Crim, hoping she would have some input.

[SaikaAnge]

Crim grabbed Leo by the good aroma and pulled him aside. "If you two keep going at it, its going to start i fight. I say bring her to the captain, and let him deal with her. But please, be kind till then." her eyes were sincere and calm.

[Tack]

Seeing the dragon, a shudder rippled through Heidra's carcass. Gritting her teeth, she nodded. "Certainly. I apologize for my unseemly behaviour." She turned toward Leo, almost said something but bit her tongue. "War is nothing but politics. You commoners would do well to remember that as you follow your leaders so blindly. The Ironbanes have no intention of wasting time, anyhow. Seizing those towns was a feint to concentrate your forces away from Duplil. No doubt they're heading toward Duplil now." She paused. "Now, if I may be so bold, do you happen to have any fresh clothes that are fit for me to wear? These rags are burdensome."

[RangerOfTheRit]

Leo whirled and faced the corpse, "Do you think we'd be so stupid as to leave our capital undefended!? We set up a position in Onyxia for this very reason! The 6 battalions that are camped here are not our entire army! We may be rebels but we're smart. Dont be so bold as to assume otherwise. You might offend some folk." Leo released the hilt of his dagger. "And dont talk to a soldier of war and politics. I've seen my fair share of both and i'd say war was the less bloody. Thats the problem with you Highborns! You cry and whine over the holes you dig and all the while, look down on those that you then rely upon to get you out of those holes. You may be dead but you have a thing or two to learn yet." He turned and strode out of the tent.

[SaikaAnge]

Crim stood there for a moment shaking her head. "I think that there may be spare clothes in the nurses tent. Walk about town minutes that way," Crim pointed in the direction she was talking about. "And you will reach it. I have to go make sure hes alright." she held open the tent for Heirda and followed her back out with Seralth sitting on her shoulder.

[Tack]

Heidra sighed--she was alone again. The half-elf's words had stung her, though she was incapable of showing it. It had reminded her of her teacher in Astal--waking her up morning after morning to practice her fencing, her martial arts, her music, her poetry, always telling her that she still had so much to learn, that she had hardly even novice skills at this point. Then the isolation in that castle, with no friends, everyone always avoiding her--the hostage, who at any moment the mad king could drag out and execute if she so much as looked at him the wrong way.

She wandered to the nurses' tent where she found herself some new clothes, then came to the camp storeroom where she retrieved her trusty rapier. The artifact wasn't there...they must have taken it. The Dragon Cultists would be angry if she came back empty handed. She looked around, and with a sigh, began to calculate her next move. She crept back to Crim's tent--there was still much she would need to know from this dragon priestess. Perhaps she would be able to remove this strange bondage the Dragon Cultists had on her.