WATCHTOWER 16: Quick and Dirty

[Morty]

[Keep ==> Front Gate]

Wenomir follows Boris to the gate.

[Shadowcaller]

[Front Gate]

Dena is waiting for the two outside leaning against the wall. "Hiya, did he introduce me of did he leave that honor to myself?"

[Devixer]

Front Gate

Boris remains silent; he can be skipped for now.

[Morty]

[Front Gate]

"He only said you're from NO and that you're here about a duel," Wenomir says. "What is this about?"

[Shadowcaller]

[Front Gate]

"That's correct, I'm Dena Xifhara and you must be Wenomir." Her eyes going over the warrior. "Strange, Kirk told me I'd be able to see the stick this close. Guess he was wrong about you." She smiles. "But I jest, Kirk can be so silly sometimes." She offers her gloved hand to shake.

[Morty]

[Front Gate]

"Ah yes, the obligatory "stick up our ass" joke," Wenomir says. "I never get tired of hearing those." He glances at Dena's hand, trying to spot anything out of ordinary. She's acting suspicious. "But you still haven't answered my question: why are you here?"

[Shadowcaller]

[Front Gate]

The glove is in fact a part of her suit, shifting in color with it. It's hard to determine exactly what it's made of, but it's leathery, perhaps it was even once part of a living animal. But as soon as Wenomir shows hesitation, she withdraws her hand. "As I said, a duel. I heard you were a blademaster of some skill so I thought to myself that I hadn't had a challenge in quite a while and I need to keep myself from getting rusty."

[Morty]

[Front Gate]

Wenomir crosses his arms on his chest.

"I don't make a habit of duelling everyone who shows up on our doorstep, you know."

[Shadowcaller]

[Front Gate]

"Really? I had heard otherwise. Besides, it would only be a little friendly duel to first blood just to test our skills. I mean, it's not everyday someone from NO comes over to Watch, I figure we guys need to hang out more. Unless you're busy of course." Too bad nearly everyone in Watch is suffering from a fatal case of seriousness.

[Morty]

[Front Gate]

"Unless it's about a contract and the duel is only a cover," Wenomir says. "I know you mercenaries. If you want a duel, you're going to give me a reason to believe it's not a ruse."

[Shadowcaller]

[Front Gate]

Dena rolls her eyes dramatically. "Geez. Alright, I didn't realize I needed to make a security check before I came here. The reason I came here for a duel is that the only ones with swords in NO live in some alternative reality where everything is turn based. Kirk got a blade but he doesn't really like to cross it with other blades if you catch my drift. So I figure, who else could I spar with while I'm not on a mission? Your name was the only one that came to mind and that lizard dude's of course, but I figured I'd ask you first."

[Morty]

[Front Gate]

Wenomir shakes his head.

"I lament the lack of opportunities in your group, but I refuse all the same. I have a touch too many enemies to accept duels from strangers."

[Shadowcaller]

[Front Gate]

"Ah well, another time then. Can't blame a guy for being paranoid. But at least we got to know each other so we won't be strangers the next time we'll meet. Be seeing ya!" Dena waves and then walks off again.

[Morty]

[Front Gate]

"Bye," Wenomir says, then shrugs and turns back to Boris. "I wonder what that was about."

[Devixer]

Front Gate

"Likely a cover for some merc job," Boris says. "Why else would she want to fight a complete stranger?"

[Morty]

[Front Gate]

"I do have a bit of a reputation, but you're right. Like I told her, Watchtower has too many enemies to make it easier by duelling anyone who comes by. Besides, KR doesn't like it when I duel people left and right," he adds. It's hard to tell if he's serious.

[Devixer]

Front Gate

"It doesn't matter what she was here for anyway. She's gone now, and hopefully she won't waste more of our time." Not that Boris is using his time for much of anything besides practice, but that wasn't his point.

[Morty]

[Front Gate]

"See you around, then," Wenomir says as he goes back into the keep.

[Devixer]

Front Gate

"Right," Boris says, heading back to the training grounds. It's probably been noted by now that he spends virtually all of his time there when not eating or sleeping.

[horngeek]

[Training Ground]

Rose nods as she picks up her spear and returns it to Elsewhere. "Thanks. Out of interest, were those things you guys have actually thought, or just pure simulations?"

[Morty]

[Training Ground]

"Those little demons, yes," Wenomir says. "I fought them a lot in the past. The lizard, I've only heard about. Supposedly there are such creatures far north on my homeworld."

[horngeek]

[Training Ground]

"Heh. You'd be more likely to find something like that in the South, or maybe the Southeast of my world. North is too cold for anything reptilian and big to have much of a chance."

[Morty]

[Training Ground]

"I realize that the northern climate should be too cold for lizards. Presumably they deal with it somehow. Or the stories originated from drunk goblins and grew on their way south," Wenomir says. "Either way, you're now a Watchman Initiate. You'll become a full Watchman when you participate in a mission or impress one of the leaders in another way. The leaders are myself, a man named DC and two women named KR and Cessie Mithar."

[horngeek]

[Training Ground]

Rose nods. "All right. Any missions going on right now?"

[Morty]

[Training Ground]

"There is a sort of looming threat of a race of demons that intend to invade," Wenomir says. "But they haven't reared their heads in ages, apart from some sightings. And apart from that, there's nothing immediate that requires our attention."

[horngeek]

[Training Ground]

Rose considers that, her anima now down to just a glow and her Caste Mark. "Huh. How common are gaps like that? Not that that's a bad thing..."

[Morty]

[Training Ground]

"They're pretty common, actually," Wenomir says. "It's usually long gaps between short periods of frantic action."

[FireFox]

[Main Entrance]

Spyridon writes a note for any member to find and take to an Oracle. It's rather lengthy for a quick note, but it states that he is going to follow a demon who claims to want to fight against the other demons and requires Watchtower's help to clean demonic taint from a town. He will send a message back with the town's location and more information about the problem. Then the necromancer steps out and closes the door behind him. Let us go.

An ephemeral spirit shows up and tries to draw any member's attention to the note Spyridon previously left. Then it marks the location of Forestside on a map, if one is available, otherwise it will just show directions with a simple illusion.

[horngeek]

[Main Entrance]

"Ah, right- hey, what's the spirit doing over there?"

Rose narrows her eyes slightly...

[Morty]

[Training Ground]

Wenomir takes the note and reads it.

"Speak of the devil. It looks like one of our members is investigating a possible incursion by the demons I just told you about. He provided directions to the place." He rubs his chins. "Go there and ask him if he needs help."