Deryn’s very formal greeting of him, granting him the title of “Sir” had him grinning and shaking his head at her, he waited on her response to his question, but none was initially forthcoming. He stood aside, sheathing his blade, the amused smile on his face as someone who is waiting for the “penny to drop” with the other person. Deryn continued venting her frustrations at his behaviour and how he had just left her before finally beginning to explain what had happened to her. His badly stifled snigger as she referred to the Starcraft scouts as “baboons”, whatever they were, drew looks from those around the fire briefly, before they returned to the rather angry young human woman before them.<br/><br/>Deryn’s question about the puncture wounds suffered by one of the scouts had him smiling and slowly shaking his head<b>“No, I don’t think it was, most beastkin have teeth like those of animals, as their name might suggest, I would have thought to see other smaller wounds if they were the cause and of course, those we encountered were not exactly subtle, I think the rest of the group would likely have been assaulted also.”</b>What would she think if she ever discovered what he was? Now was not the time for her to find out though, as much as he knew Imperellis and some of the Starcraft, he’d rather not bring up his true nature.<br/><br/>Imperellis, an impressive and large creature, what he had ‘been’ before his transformation was not known to Malkier but now he was a plant like creature, dryad conjured the wrong image, Imperellis was not some lithe seductive individual, broad and stout, he’d make a great dwarf if he had a beard and was only half his height. But second to his appearance was his pattern, like Malkier it span in reverse to Deryn, Imperellis the unliving tree, a strange almost ironic creature, he was terrifying when roused, Malkier knew this first hand when they had clashed on the fields of battle before, but his demeanour outside of conflict was genial, usually welcoming and he enjoyed a joke, especially at the expense of others. Looking on with a bemused smile as Deryn turned to address him after concluding her initial outburst and began with introducing herself and explaining the situation once more to the chieftan. Malkier’s amusement continued as she looked to him between her explanation, apology and request for assistance, despite his stifled laughter he was impressed, she could have done far worse but a tribal encampment in the wilds of Teutonia was not the halls of some stuffy court where “Sirs” and bowing was required.<br/><br/>Imperellis was a better ‘man’ than Malkier, managing to maintain his composure through her speech before he burst out laughing, this in turn lead to the scouts and other tribe members within earshot to join in with their chieftan’s amusement.<b>“I am no lord or sir Deryn Calhey, we don’t adopt quite the formalities that some of our nearby neighbours might. But, thank you for your greeting and your news, it is indeed a concern. As for assistance, I am certain we can provide you a bed for the night and likely sustenance too.”</b>His voice was lighter than one might expect for one of his size and from a tree, should anyone have bothered to expect how a tree might sound if they were usually heard talking.<b>“Thank you boys, you’re free to go about your business and get some rest.” </b>With a nod to the group of scouts who had brought Deryn into the camp, they responding in a series of appreciative grunts and rumbling thanks as they went their separate ways in the camp, the last to leave dropping the bundle that held the few belongings Deryn had brought with her.<br/><br/>Imperellis returned to his place by the fire and gestured for his, now, two guests to join him. Others shuffled and made space for them in the pool of orange light and warmth.<b>“So, explain again what you both encountered at the Shrine and we shall see what likely causes there may be.” </b>Between Malkier and Deryn they retold their encounter with the Beastkin, how they had surged like a wave and been heedless of danger or wounds. They explained that only the felling of over half their number seemed to break their nerve and then it was hardly a rout, that those who seemed to have tasted blood or were fighting fought to the end. During their retelling food was brought, a meat based stew and a share of bread, between mouthfuls Imperellis asked questions to clarify details, seeming perhaps that this was not the first he had heard of something like this.<b>“You say they seemed afflicted with something?”</b>his question aimed at Malkier as it was he who had supplied the information.<br/><br/><b>“Aye, I checked the corpses of the fallen and they had definitely been carriers of something, and I would stake a guess that it was the cause of their erratic behaviour. I know that I was not affected by it and have not succumbed since. Those men of Albion who fell I obviously couldn’t tell if they were likely to be affected as their patterns had departed their bodies.” </b>Malkier tore off a chuck of bread after soaking it in the broth.<br/><br/><b>“Hmmmm, unfortunately this is not the first I had heard of this. I hoped it was just an exaggerated story or rather bloodthirsty band, but they were all wiped out about a month ago, so it seems not.” </b>Imperellis turned looking about the camp, clearly looking to summon someone to him, gesturing to a rather scrawny grey skinned goblin who came almost capering over<b>“Fetch Impalla and Imperella for me and Sule’dema as well, I believe she had word she wanted passing back to her Aunt.”</b><br/><br/>They waited by the fire, finishing their meals, Malkier asking questions of other happenings in Teutonia and news of the surface in general. After a couple of minutes two horned humanoids in purple robes came into the light of the fire<b>“You asked to see us Imperellis?”</b>spoke the male of the two newcomers.<br/><br/><b>“Ah, Impalla, good to see you and Imperella too. Do you recall those feral Beastkin we encountered a couple of weeks back? Seems they were not just feral and there may be more. I may need you to carry out a Rite, speak to Bacchus perhaps or to scry upon where they may be coming from, is this something that can be done?”</b><br/><br/><b>“We can manage something like that most certainly”</b>The female of the two, presumably Imperella replied, we shall go and gather contributors of power and discuss the best option for success. Both parting with a brief nod to their chieftain before turning and being swallowed by the darkness beyond the boundary of the fire. No sooner had they left that a new figure appeared, a female with black skin and white hair she approached Imperellis<b>“You asked for me? Something about a message for my Aunt?”</b>she raised a goblet to her lips the bowl and stem intricately carved with symbols of spiders and webs.<br/><br/>Rising from the fire Malkier gave a slight bow to the newcomer<b>“Mistress Sule’dema, it has been a a while, I hope life upon the surface does you well. Matron Mother sends her regards as always and bids you come and visit her in Dyar’Turic soon.”</b><br/><br/>Imperellis smiled looking up at the young looking drow female<b>“Not quite the place I’d usually like to visit but it would be good to exchange information and stories again with your House. I am sure the Matron will allow me to abuse her Patron Yaskel again, he is good sport.”</b>The last comment brought laughter from the lips of Sule’dema and even Malkier could not help his own smile and silent laughter.<br/><br/>Tag:<a class="username" data-user-id="91" data-username="@Wren" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" href="https://blackdahliaroleplaying.com/members/91/">@Wren</a>