[IC] Botanist And Bards

[Rune_Alchemist]

~Isabella~

---

Highstorm? She had no idea what that was. They had only been in the region for what...a few days at most? It sounded serious judging from the swords tone, at least. That however, sounded like common knowledge everyone should know about...and asking a talking sword about it just seemed absolutely silly. She turned her head towards the guards and Valora, who were all talking loudly about how to bury the man in question. She should ask them to make a shelter then.

...but they looked like they were having fun? She didn't want to impose...

She clutched the sword tighter, unsure of what to do. She knew that she could just order them around with a single word, but she never liked doing so. The voice of the other carriage stopping behind her caught her attention as the older blacksmith and commoner stopped behind them. Sounded like they were arguing about something. But she had to tell someone at least, didn't she? She cast a glance over to Kinsey and Edith.

...it was difficult to approach them when they were already doing their own thing.

[Roleplayer001]

Gracie's eyes turned upwards at the situation ahead on the road - a man seemed to collapse ahead of them, but the guards headed forward and a blinding light followed soon afterwards. A little tension built in her throat as she looked around nervously, hoping this wasn't a bad sign for them. As soon as Prescott ... and Tripp, right? As soon as they started to bury the man she let out a sigh of relief - hopefully they wouldn't do such a thing if there hadn't been a problem.

Though the sword Isabella was looking at was a bit ... strange, at least. Had it been the object that had given off the as they approached it? Even from a short distance away, it was rather apparent the weapon was gorgeous and beautiful. Just like the person holding it - that was her pride and work after all - although the princess seemed considerably more nervous than the object she possessed.

It would be easier to continue to walk and ignore her lady's obvious plea for help, but she knew how 'her nervous highness' always depended on her. With a slight breath of frustration she let out a small sigh and sped up her walk so she'd catch up to Isabella. She walked silently for a few seconds but then broke the still air with her voice. "Apologies your highness, but something seems to be troubling you." Her introductions were always formal, but they had known each other long enough that it wasn't necessary to maintain that. "Is there something you need to talk about, Isabella?" It was hard to get the woman to say anything unless you were blunt and direct with her.

[Rune_Alchemist]

~Isabella~

---

Gracie's voice had completely startled Isabella, making the princess jump backwards slightly in surprise. She hadn't heard her friend and maid approach in the slightest. Something she needed to talk about? Isabella looked down towards the sword she was clutching tightly to her body. In hindsight she had probably should have gotten the sheathe it was being carried in too...or at least whatever was being used to carry it on her back. Maybe Mervyn would have one? Asking would be a little...difficult, though.

Right, Gracie.

Isabella looked back up to the older maid.

"U-uhm..." Right...how should she explain that they should find shelter? The sky was absolutely clear, wasn't it? A quick look towards the treetops to confirm before frowning slightly. "Shelter...storm soon." Gracie would believe her, right? She was the only one here the princess really felt close too. Not that she didn't like everyone else, but Gracie was decidedly much different.

[Roleplayer001]

Gracie watched as Isabella looked down towards the sword, as if consulting it before answering her. Or was it simply her usual nervousness? The maid looked towards the sky though after her highness' comment - it was a completely clear and beautiful day, wasn't it? For a moment she allowed her white hair to be blown slightly in the breeze before analyzing Isabella one more time.

It was an odd request, but it fell into the 'so far out there' category that it seemed somewhat believable. She wasn't exactly what sort of storm she was talking about and in truth had no idea how to seek out shelter if they needed it, but there was someone who hopefully would. "Of course your highness. I will alert the others." As she curtsied and turned away she looked around the caravan - bingo. The cartographer.

The maid approached the cartographer with a neutral expression before expanding on what the princess wanted. "Her highness is concerned about the possibility of a storm and deems that shelter is appropriate for the occasion." The maid found herself looking at the perfectly clear sky one more time, but as her eyes hardened at the annoying woman before her it would be rather apparent that it wasn't simply a request.

[Rune_Alchemist]

~Isabella~

---

"E-eh?" Edith looked towards the sky as Gracie interrupted her conversation with Kinsey. "Storm? But it's so pretty out!" Edith didn't seem to particularly take notice of the glare, or didn't care. "Maybe the princess is just tired?" This earned a sharp jab in the side from Kinsey. "But shelter, erm..." The map maker looked around quickly. Nothing but large trees as far as the eye could see! "If it's just a simple storm we could just set up the tents and tie them down easily enough like we normally do when it rains, couldn't we?" She paused for a moment and seemed to wait for a response from Gracie before Kinsey gave a sigh and poked her on the head.

"A-ah! You want us to set them up!" with a bright grin, Edith hopped forwards slightly. "Alright, Kinsey lets get Mervyn and the others! We'll have the tents up fairly soon." With a light chuckle, Kinsey followed after waving at the princess as they went to talk with Mervyn about setting up a temporary shelter until the storm passed.

[Roleplayer001]

As the maid gave instructions to the other campers she looked over towards the princess, as if slightly concerned but remaining there to help with possible and necessary arrangements, puffing out her cheeks in slight frustration as Edith gave her a little bit of verbal trouble before obeying the order.

The blade remained silent for a short period of time, as if contemplating what was going on as much as the princess was. It was becoming more and more apparent that she was totally foreign to this land - after such a long time, it was impossible to simply look at a person and make sense of it. The changes always seemed to blend together.

The winged sword however seemed to have other thoughts as a voice entered the mind of it's wielder. "Your Highness, a castle or cave would be more appropriate for this occasion." The sword seemed to speak as if it was utterly confident that this should be heeded. There was a slight pause from the sword as it continued. "A couple of miles ahead there is a fortress we could stay at."

The princess would get the notion that the sword had more to say, but it remained silent in her hands as they were nearby the horse.

[Rune_Alchemist]

~Isabella~

---

E-eh? A castle of sorts or cave of some sort would be more appropriate? Isabel frowned. That seemed absolutely preposterous. Unless it'd be a particularly bad storm of some sort? Back home in the monarchy, most storms tended to be on the milder side. Rain was a huge problem at times, though. She looked to Gracie and then back to the blade. She had already asked her to help her with this, and it'd seem rude to order her around again.

Still...if the sword was right then it'd be rather bad for her to ignore them, wouldn't it? Gracie wouldn't mind...of course she wouldn't. Isabel walked over to Gracie, pulling lightly on her sleeve to get her attention and shook her head.

"Bad storm." She managed to speak. "Camp...won't be enough. Keep moving." This was likely making her come off as more than a little odd.

[Roleplayer001]

Gracie wasn't surprised as her sleeve was tugged on slightly. It was the usual way the princess managed to gather someone's attention. It would take some work to fix this nervous habit, but the message was a little surprising. A bad storm? They needed to keep moving?

For a second the maid considered questioning why and asking what this wild goose chase was about - the sky was clear as day. But Isabella wouldn't beat past her natural nervousness for something she didn't believe in.

Gracie interrupted some of the soldiers as they erected their tents, instructing them to continue marching amongst their confusion. As they prepared to continue moving and returned to their march, was there anything the Princess would try to do in the meantime as she held the powerful sword?

[Rune_Alchemist]

~Isabella~

---

Isabella sighed silently to herself as Gracie took care of everything. She was always glad she could rely on the other woman, ever since she was a kid she had been there for her once her parents quickly realized she was about socially adept as a potato. In fact, a potato could probably hold a conversation better than she could. Now that everyone was moving though, she should probably get back on her horse and get to moving too. She walked back over to the steed, Turnip. Why was he named turnip? Well, he was white like the bottom part of a turnip!

...yes, the princess realized that was a silly name but it was a cute name for a cute horse.

She stood at the horses side, looked down at the blade and then back up at the horse.

Now how'd she get on with the sword? From the looks of things they already buried the knight and the sheathe with it. Woops~

Isabel frowned, furrowing her brow. Okay, she just...should get creative here. She considered asking Gracie, but she had already imposed on her maid too much in the span of the last few seconds so she should do this herself! She could do it! She was princess, and therefore she was naturally skilled at problem solving!

As long as said problem solving didn't involve talking to people verbally, of course.

Luckily, there was a space behind the saddle where she kept a few supplies. Now, it'd be easy enough to tie it down and continue on their travels, wouldn't it? She could talk with the sword later.

[Roleplayer001]

The party headed through the forest at the princess' behest, although some of the rank and file troops grumbled just slightly as they continued along. Gracie returned to her spot nearby the princess, walking along the mighty steed as her lady rode the imposing animal - although Turnip probably wasn't the name appropriate for such an animal. Of course, that opinion had remained silent.

The thick forest trees eventually gave way to a field of grass - although the wildlife around them was acting strangely - the grass almost seemed to move slightly into the ground as if preparing for something, and the sparse trees seemed to twist over time, orientating their T shaped trunks simultaneously in a certain direction.

In the distance the group would see what appeared to be a large crustacean creature - perhaps the size of a large wagon. It's shell was rocky and as they approached closer they would see the various crab like limbs pull within the shell as if to hide from something. Several similarly sized rocks would be seen later in the field. Whatever they were, they were passive as the group passed on by. In the distance a small fortress of stone had walls slightly sloped inwards - in fact, the party would realize that every house in the area was low to the ground with sloped walls excluding some of the castles towers which were nearly perfectly rounded.

The group was coming over a hill, and if they wished to remain hidden they would be able to. Or they could approach, but the half mile walk would be out in the open.

[Rune_Alchemist]

~Isabella~

---

The princess rode in silence, taking in the surroundings. It just...looked so much different than the vast plains Raerith. Even the grassy plains had a different feel to them. Not that she really knew the countryside of Raerith all that well, since she wasn't allowed out of the castle except for any fancy parties...but she always liked the calmness of them. They passed the giant crab, some of the more protective soldiers with them making a bit of a fuss and put themselves between them and the princess.

"Alright, Halt!" Valora said, holding up a hand to bring the group to a halt a bit of a distance away out of view of the castle. "It'd be foolish to walk up to a fortress like that without knowing if their friend or foe." She said, earning a small tilt of the princess head. Why wouldn't it be good? They would...have no reason to try and harm them, would they? Besides, the sword seemed...trustworthy. He seemed friendly, at least. "Princess, I'll take a few men and approach the castle and see if its safe enough for us to lodge here for the night and maybe resupply." Well, it sounded like a good idea. It wasn't like she knew how to do any of this anyways - and Valora was nice and she trusted her. The princess gave a silent nod of her head.

"Very well. Prescott, Tripp, with me!" The two other guards quickly fell in line. "Kelsey, if anything happens to the princess I swear to the creator I'll have your hide even if I have to crawl out of the realm of the dead to do it." She turned back to the princess. "If we don't return within half an hour, assume its no good - and don't try and wait for us." Isabella smiled to herself as Valora left. She was always so serious and always was so...unafraid? She wished she could be a bit more like her. Leaving them behind for any reason though, made the princess frown.

She did feel at least somewhat responsible for them, they were out here because of her after all, and they didn't even really know why.

She cast a glance over to Gracie...she wondered what her maid was thinking?

[Roleplayer001]

The maid noticed the princess looking back to her, and she shrugged. She wasn't one of these military career people - she was simply a maid. The half hour figure probably seemed a little rushed, and it was obvious the rather naïve princess didn't appreciate the notion of leaving them behind, but she understood it somewhat from a tactical perspective at least.

"Your highness, they ... they are being wise in this case. I think it is best that we trust their expertise here - we'll all be safer for it." She hoped the words would comfort the princess, and hopefully placing a caring hand on her lower back wouldn't make her feel so exposed. "Everything should be fine, my Princess."

The sword of course remained silent, not seeming opposed to the current course of action.

---

As Valora, Prescott, and Tripp approached the castle they would see a small door on the front shielded from the outside by the design of the building embedded into a circular gate - and a severe lack of windows compared to the princess' home palace. Where the few murder holes and arrow slits were, it was easily to tell that a sheet of metal covered the small entrances inside the castle.

A single guard out front, looking at the group as they approached. He knocked a few times on the door before approaching with the attentive nervousness that anyone who risked their life would have. "You there ...!" The man blinked as if surprised. "... Not brigands, I hope?"

[Rune_Alchemist]

~Isabella~

---

Isabella frowned, but said nothing to the maid, only turning her eyes ahead and watched them until they disappeared over the hill.

"Oh yes, we're a traveling band of brigands that just waltz right up to the door of some well-fortified looking building because the three of us can totally not get an arrow in the knee." Tripp replied to the nervous guard after they finally approached, earning a swat on the back of his head from Valora and a small snicker from Prescott.

"Shut your mouth, soldier." Valora turned back to the guard that addressed them. He was nervous, that much was obvious. Odd for someone in his position unless he was doing something he wasn't supposed to be doing. Perhaps he was just new, though. Valora narrowed her eyes at him before responding directly. "What this idiot here is trying to say, is no, we're not brigands. Just...a group of travelers escorting Lady Isabella through these lands." She didn't elaborate anymore on Isabella - didn't want to give them any more information to go on, but she at least did want them to know she was of some importance. Chances were they wouldn't know her first name, but the title of 'Lady' in the way she used it wasn't done so lightly. "We've been traveling for awhile, and still have quite a bit of ways to go. We've been informed of a possible storm and would prefer not being caught outside. Would it be possible to let our people stay here until the weather passes and possible resupply?"

If the other guard had any lick of sense, he'd likely realize that Valora was being cautious.

[Roleplayer001]

The guard seemed to let out a sigh of relief. Lady ... Lady Isabella? He wasn't exactly sure of the name, but a glance towards the horizon made him relax a bit more as he decided he had time to make his decision. And besides, they had a female leading this small party. That made their chances of being involved in anything too nefarious less likely. He knocked on the door again - it was rather obvious this was some sort of code - and turned back towards the group. "I haven't heard of this Lady Isabella - but if you aren't from around here I'd advise getting her right now. Our terms are negotiable. The storm's terms aren't." Truthfully it would be bad form to guarantee one safety within the castle before at least seeing them. "Typically we request that you hand over your arms before entry for obvious reasons however. They will be returned when you leave." The man spoke as if this was a more expected part of the conversation.

[Rune_Alchemist]

~Isabella~

---

Valora narrowed her eyes at the guard. By all means, it was a sensible request that Valora could understand asking of unknown and armed persons asking to stay somewhere. Still though, the safety of Isabella was a bit more than she was willing to risk on the whims of some unknown guard in an unknown place.

"I request that at least I and at least one other retain our weapons." She replied curtly. "I understand your concerns but Lady Isabella's safety is my number one concern and without a weapon I can hardly call myself a soldier nor capable of efficiently protecting her Ladyship." There were so many things that could possibly go wrong if she didn't have a weapon, it was foolish to even ask her to relinquish it. If the princess was here she'd of course, see no problem at all. Valora may not know the princess all to personally, but from the small bit she had been with her she knew one thing. The poor girl had about as much of a sense for danger as a blind, deaf, old man, light bless her.

Not her fault - that lied with her parents for keeping her locked up in that gilded cage known as a castle.

"Is that acceptable terms, sir?"

[Roleplayer001]

The guard rubbed their chin for a moment - leaving two armed seemed to be fairly reasonable, especially considering the remainder of their weapons would be stashed away securely. However, it wasn't really his decision to make. With a sigh, he looked up. "I'll let the captain know of your request ... but the skies indicate the storm is coming inwards. I don't know where your lady is, but I advise you bring them with due haste."

It would appear the man was speaking honestly, but it was also apparent that he wasn't the sort who wouldn't help someone who refused to help themselves.

[Rune_Alchemist]

~Isabella~

---

Well, that would have to do for now. If this storm was as bad as her grace and this soldier seemed to think, then they wouldn't have much more time to negotiate, would they?

"Very well, I suppose that is the best I can expect for now. Prescott! Retrieve Lady Isabella and tell them to hurry."

"On it, retrieving Prin-" A sharp glare from Valora quickly changed what he was about to say. "-Lady Isabella and the others." With a salute, the young volunteer started back towards where they had left the others without another word. Valora shook her head. As excitable as he was when entering new places, he could at least follow orders reasonably well if he could keep his mouth shut unlike a certain someone named Kelsey and Edith...

A few minutes passed before Isabella and her small entourage would make it to the gates. Valora stood silently, giving the still mostly unknown guard a studying gaze, still trying to see if she could find anything that would make her question his safety. When the group arrive, Isabella was situated near the middle of the formation, with two wagons behind her loaded with various supplies for their smith, and the other for supplies and foodstuffs.

"Lady Isabella." Valora Saluted. "These good folks will allow us to stay here for the duration of the storm." Isabella gave the guard in question a cool gaze, but otherwise said nothing. "I'll work with the others to get Mervyn's wagons and the horses put up somewhere. I assume you have stables and somewhere we can let them rest a bit?" She said, turning her head towards the guard.

For the most part, Isabella remained silent and said nothing as usual.

[Roleplayer001]

The guard let out a nod as he looked over the party - it seemed more like a group trying to start a village than a real military force. Still though, the rules they had applied. Though as the skies started to darken in the distance he let out a gulp and knocked on the gate in a new pattern, this time the entire thing opening rather than just the small doorway for individual use. "I'll allow you and you Lady to maintain her arms. Everyone else is expected to hand their weapons over." They had said two, but two women wielding weapons - one of them especially seemed inexperienced - was likely to be a threat to their plans.

If the group handed over their weapons the gate would be opened before them, revealing a large entry chambed likely intended to finish off any intruders with several small gates of it's own, each instilled with additional arrow slits. The gate behind them would close, and the signs of the storm would be obvious as it had become a wall of wind approaching the castle, bits and pieces of the ground outside being ripped out and joining the swirling might of whatever god had sent them.

"I can take your cart through this gate to the stables." The gate on the left opened, revealing a storeroom and stable combination, although it was entirely indoors. A few horses waited within that were happily chewing the hay before them.

[Rune_Alchemist]

~Isabella~

---

"Very well, that is...agreeable." Valora narrowed her eyes at the man. It was clear that Isabella likely had zero experience with any sort of weaponry. The fact that he said she could keep it, was suspicious in and of itself. She'd make sure the rest of the men were kept on alert and to always travel in pairs - and not to leave anyone like Edith or other non-combatants by herself.

"Kinsey, Edith I want you to stay with her Grace. I want no splittin' up either." The more experienced guard didn't seem to pay too much attention to the approaching storm, but the others in the group seemed to whisper among themselves and watch with wide eyes. Kinsey shrugged but didn't say too much else, and Edith seemed to be more focused on the storm. "Oi, everyone get their asses inside. We're strangers in a stranger land, don't dawdle! And you heard him. Hand over your weapons." Valora shouted back at the crew, which seemed to get them moving at least reasonably well.

Mervyn the smith and Lana the thief worked with getting the wagons together and putting them up, though Mervyn wasn't going to leave his tools so easily. That would be for the other guards to decide whether to take his hammer and other smithing tools.

"Your grace, I'll find you once I get the rest of these layabouts settled. Now, the rest of you," Valora started speaking to the rest handful of guards as they would hand over the weapons. She gave them a handful of instructions - most notably that she didn't want any of them traveling alone, and to always check their backs. Of course, most of the others that were armed simply thought she was being paranoid. In total the eight guards handed over their weapons.

Isabella went on to settled Turnip up at the stables - the horse gave a playful neigh, bumping his head into Isabella's chin as she gave him a friendly petting on the head. She untied the mysterious sword from its bindings before walking over to Edith, Kinsey, and Gracie and giving them a somewhat expectant and questioning look.

...so where would she be staying the night?

[Roleplayer001]

As the Princess questioned where she would be staying the night she'd likely fall on her face along with the rest of the party as a loud BOOM echoed through the hallways of the castle, the sound of rain slamming into the thick stone structure like a thousand arrows sent flying a second. The stormfront had hit. Even the experienced guards who were in the area seemed nervous and ready to go further into the castle, but they collected the weapons before falling back behind the central gate.

The princess' horse would likely be unsettled by it along with the few other steeds in there, but a stablehand came by and wordlessly placed ... earmuffs over their ears. Aside from looking a little silly however, the mares and stallions seemed to become somewhat more calm.

A girl who couldn't be older than thirteen approached the group from the central group, clearly wearing servants garb as she beckoned them to follow her deeper into the castle - it would be difficult to make out voices admist the storm, but if the group approached they would hear the storm quiet when the second gate was shut from a terrifying screech of an angry god and instead dwindle to an ominous overcast that touched the entire castle like a ghost who's words were hard to make out.

As her eyes looked upwards towards the taller adults, a brand across her forehead would become visible to many of them as her hair shifted. Her voice was quiet, but she seemed reasonably calm. "Welcome to Hasingwrath Keep ..." Her eyes drifted over many of the people before her. "Are any of you touched by the Windmothers?" It seemed that this was an important question to ask, as in the hallway ahead of them they would see some of the guards grip their weapons a little more tightly than necessary for just holding them upright.