Ronald
**Jeanne de Lysse 🟣 The Keep Sempiternal**

A new dawn rose over the Keep Sempiternal. A dawn with two faces. To the south, the sky was glazed with an aquamarine hue. To the north, the clouds were dyed red just like they had been before twilight. _"Signs and Portents"_, thought Jeanne. Her mother had always insisted she learned how to read the omens, and although Jeanne had always held her esoteric chikanery in contempt, she had picked a thing or two from the Silverwrought.

"Blood was spilled last night in the Rustlands. Lots of it," She murmured.

Tssk. Blood was always being spilled in Nothwind. What was new about that?
Northwind brought to mind the man sleeping in the guest room. Her mother's mercenary. What was his name again? Cornelius. Arrogant prick. Jeanne had been suprised to see he didn't use the serpent coin to call for girls or narcotics. Eh, to each their own, she guessed.

She tightened the belt around her riding trousers before putting the white blouse. Jeanne loved it for it's plum embroidery and durability, but the fabric was coarse, so it was better not to wear it very tightly. Same thing applied to her rapier: Jeanne had found that it was a good idea to leave some room between her hips and the scabbard.

Without waiting any longer, she dashed atop her white mare towards the villages below the keep. Even in late winter, the towns were bustling with activity: potters, blacksmiths, butchers... All roamed from one side of the streets to the other, seeking to set their shops before the others. One in particular was quite late to the party: a man driving a carriage whose wheels were framed by strange mechanical contraptions. Jeanne could't help but to be curious. For despite their usual idiocy, her family had always nurtured a keen love for all things mechanical.
John
**Cornelius - The Keep Sempiternal**

Cornelius' face became animated shortly after he'd fallen asleep. Miscellaneous noises, the wind outside, the scurrying of rodents, and other minute things kept him awake, just as he was trained to do. He found it odd just how rested he felt after such little sleep, rested enough to do a little exploring of the castle, mostly to find the library which he'd foolishly failed to inquire about in his prior state of exhaustion.

He sat up on what might be the only comfortable thing he'd had the chance to lie down on since the passing of his late mentor, and every vertibra in his spine released a *Pop* As the man stretched himself out. Slinging his legs over the bedside and his feet into his shoes, Cornelius stood up. His feet brought him to the door where he'd squat down and take a look through the door's keyhole in an attempt to see if he would be greeted by an unexpected party on the other side.
Ronald
**The Keep Sempiternal**

A pair of servants and a pair of guards stood by the other side of the door. Unaware of the amber aye peeking at them from the keyhole.

"Do you think he is already awake?" Asked one of the maids.

"We have our orders. We are not to disturb him until he comes out or slides the coin" Replied one of the guards. "We'll stay here all day if it's what it takes."
John
**Cornelius - The Keep Sempiternal**

Cornelius raised a brow and thanked whoever his maker was for blessing him with good hearing. He pondered how he should go about exiting the room, mainly whether or not to act clueless as to his knowledge of the people standing on the other side of the door. Although he was working for the woman at the head of the castle, there was no telling what other malign, clandestine parties lied in wait. In the end, Cornelius figured he'd play the part of the uninformed fool.

"Ugh," He groaned, standing up and pulling the door open, "I guess sl-" 

He halted himself, feigning surprise at the presence of those outside his door.

"Is it not rude to lurk outside of one's room?" He joked, having done just that many times himself.
Ronald
**Guards & Maids - The Keep Sempiternal**

"We were ordered to stand by your room," Said the guard in an attempt to excuse himself. "Lady Selene wanted to meet you before your departure."
John
**Cornelius - The Keep Sempiternal**

"How very kind of her. Might I ask where to find her, or are you four to be my guides?" 

He slicked his hair back to its usual place and made his way out the door, closing it behind.