Hellrider's Pride (for Verso)

[hellrider]

As the world starts to calm a little in the aftermath of the Netherbrain's defeat, Zevlor finds himself at loose ends. For the first several months, he and his Hellrider friends were busy hunting the last of the ilithids and cultists that escaped the battle, and they were merciless. Now, though, that source of adventure has waned, and the remnants of his platoon have gone further south, scouting for new battles to fight. In the meantime, it's been Zevlor's business to guard caravans to and from Halsin's settlement in New Reithwin. The Shadow-cursed lands are cursed no longer, although the remains of battle linger like scars between the cherry blossoms.

On the road from Baldur's Gate to Reithwin, assorted camps and villages have sprung up, and he stops at one spot to refresh himself, only to hear tales of a skulking wanderer causing the residents no end of concern. Not a mindflayer, based on the description, but that doesn't mean he can't cause harm. Zevlor is properly skeptical, of course. Sometimes people are merely territorial without cause for real concern. Still, they ask him for help, and he wouldn't be much of a paladin if he refused.

He's well-armed when he heads to the ruins of a nearby farmstead to look for the man, but he doesn't draw his blade when he gets close. He's alert, wary, but not aggressive.

Comments

[amourpeint]

Verso didn't quite realize the effect his presence was having on the locals. He didn't make a habit of going near them- he was experienced at living on his own, at scavenging and hunting. His only real interactions with others being spotting hunters in passing, or maybe seeing someone while out hunting some creature or another. He'd discovered that to be a fairly lucrative way to make a living for someone not especially inclined to integrate into society.

Settled into his current campsite however? Verso was entirely unaware that society had decided it was time to deal with it, like it or not. He hadn't especially made the abandoned farmstead homey but the setup seemed less like some evil ritual site and more just a hermit making due. Sensing the approach of another, he like Zevlor, didn't seem to default to aggression, but there was a definite alertness in the pale gaze that flicked up to see who was approaching.

[hellrider]

That this is a mere camp is a relief, although it begs a few questions. Why go so far out of his way to avoid people? He doesn't seem aggressive, and it's beneath Zevlor to harass some poor shy nomad who only wants to be left alone, but he might just as easily be a fugitive.

In any case, the tiefling approaches at a calm, easy pace. Between the armor and the way he carries himself, it's easy enough to guess he's a soldier or knight; he looks like a man who has lived through fear and come out the other side imperturbable.

"I don't know whether you're aware you have neighbors," he begins. "But you do, and evidently they're...concerned about your intentions in the area."

He gives a gentle shrug. "Mind you, whoever owned these fields is long gone, so they don't properly belong to anyone. I'm not here to evict you, just to make sure their fears are unfounded."

[amourpeint]

They were a soldier to be sure, of some sort. Verso could peg that in the tiefling from the way they carried themselves, a thing that translated beyond gear and weaponry. And he didn't doubt that the other could read a similar thing out of him, no matter how he wasn't in proper armor in the moment. Brows lifting as he considered the man from across the campfire he had going, a tilt of his head as he listened.

"Well, assuming they're not the wolves that have been harrying the Trelmont's sheep, I can assure them I mean them no troubles," A quiet hum, a wry chuckle. "Might be doing them a favor even, given the amount of the beasts I've noted in the area."

Not the most exciting of work, not nearly the most entertaining for Verso, but it was reliable pay, and would give him some time to think about where to go from here.

[hellrider]

Zevlor can't help but smile slightly at that declaration. It's good news on more than one level: this man is not here for trouble, and any misunderstandings can be cleared up by neighboring residents talking to one another instead of hiding behind their walls.

Not that he can blame them for hiding; it's still a dangerous world out there. But it will be safer if they join forces. "Well enough," he says. "I could ask for proof, but I think perhaps I'll just check in with the Trelmonts and have them talk to Aylard and Josette. They're running a tavern, but they seem to have set themselves up as the authorities in the village, at least until there enough people to set up a council."

"Is there a reason you haven't spoken to them yourself?" A pause, and then a slight bow. "I beg your pardon. My name is Zevlor. I'm only a passing traveler, but they saw the armor and asked me to assist."

Verso may or may not recognize the insignia on his tabard. It's resembles a Hellrider warding symbol, the shallow crescent moon adorned with triple-pierced swords, but there's an additional modification: the moon is tilted with the points facing downwards, as if shielding something below it from the sky above, and extended into a full circle.

[amourpeint]

"About the closest thing I could show to proof would be a pelt." Verso pointed out with a wryly amused little grin and shrug.

Zevlor's not wrong though. These people would fare better if they talked to each other, organized their own protections. But people could be stubborn about control, perceived or otherwise, so he's not entirely surprised that they haven't yet done so.

"It didn't seem necessary to go bothering the others," Replied as he gave a vague sort of gesture with a hand. "From their fencing they know about the wolves, and the beasts haven't gotten bold enough to harry the village proper. And once I've culled them back to saner numbers, they'll be less likely to anyways."

Verso didn't know all the details of the place, but he'd seen the symbol before here and there. Maybe not that specific version, but it was familiar enough. The little crest on the pin at his cloak likely wasn't familiar. A cluster of five stars inside an almost brushed-in circle. But at some point, the metal had cracked. Fractured and the circle was broken, the stars separated. But tellingly enough, Verso hadn't replaced it.

"Verso, though. A pleasure, Zevlor."

[hellrider]

"No, hold onto those. Someone's going to want the fur eventually," he chuckles quietly, then gestures at a stump that sits on the opposite side of the fire from Verso's. "Do you mind if I sit for a moment? Hate to have a conversation while looming over people."

He notices the pin, and it strikes him as the same sort of heraldry his own clothing displays, but as to what it means, he's not sure. The stars are reminiscent of Selune, but not quite the same. Perhaps the topic will come up in further conversation.

"Well met, Verso. Are you comfortable here? Safe enough?" Just checking, you know. Paladin's gonna paladin.

[amourpeint]

"You're not wrong. Good pelt's dead useful." Verso agreed amenably enough. And at the request, he just nods, with a low chuckle. "Make yourself comfortable."

It wasn't the first time he'd found himself with a companion in camp. It was sometimes safer to join up for an evening. Or just to stop, enjoy the idea of chatting with another person for a bit, sharing news of safe paths, potential jobs.

"Hm?" Oh no, that was... actually kind of charming. Was Zevlor mother-henning? It was probably a good thing Esquie wasn't here to see. "Oh, as safe and comfortable as a wilderness camp can hope to be. Not the first, and hardly the last I'm sure."

[hellrider]

Zevlor may or may not stay the evening. In a way, a campfire feels cozier than a room at an inn, after as much time as he's spent on the road, but he'd rather not wear out his welcome.

"I've seen a lot on these roads in the last year," he admits. "Refugees going both directions, and all sorts of things that would prey upon them. You should at least be safe from mind flayers at this point. But do watch your back for goblins and the like."

[amourpeint]

Honestly? Verso wouldn't mind it. He didn't get any sense of trouble or danger from the tiefling, and sometimes it was just... nice to talk to people. Helped him stay a bit more grounded.

"Haven't seen signs of either, luckily enough," He'd at least been around long enough to know of the dangers, but was happy to have avoided most of it. A couple encounters with goblins here and there, but that seemed more the norm from what he understood so far. "Take it you and yours have spooked them off from these parts?"