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Holger stretched, cracking his back. He was tired, but in a good way. He had spent the previous night in one of the whore houses, fucking perhaps one of the better whores he had ever encountered. He needed to blow off that one last load (it had certainly been more than one!) as his anxiety and fear built up. Despite his hard exterior, Holger was still an Outsider in the Empire and still had many real fears. Being pulled out of his comfort zone and charged with what seemed like an aimless mission grated at him. He'd have preferred leading some raid full of greenhorns on some heavily defended castle to this. Give him a clear cut objective, clear enemies, and he was your guy. But leading a bunch of unknowns into an unknown place? Well, something felt off about it that he didn't like.</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#f1f1d4">He had left the whore, still asleep, early in the morning and returned to his accommodations, bathing alone despite the bleary eyed promises of the tavern girl who drew his bath for him. The girl had fallen asleep slumped on the stairs by the time he had finished bathing and dressed. He tossed another coin into her lap for her troubles, having woken her from her sleep to draw him the bath. In the two hours since, he had checked his gear at least 6 times and met with the Guild representative. He despised the scumbags of the guild, their important members always dressed in maroon with gold trimmings. So pompous. He often felt they held more sway than the King did!<br/>
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He eyed the dozen soldiers that would be traveling with them over the Sea of Grass. He could only wonder what shit they had caused to be assigned such a shitty task. They'd be used mostly as laborers once on the other side, building up the Outpost into a more defensible position, a little more permanence to it. No whores over there, Holger though, shaking his head. He checked on his horse - nothing special, just a steed to get them across the Sea - and the other four. The sixth horse was a packhorse with their personal supplies for the journey. There were six of them in the party, but the sixth man - simply named as Red by the Guild member - was far too large for a horse to carry and Holger was assured the man wouldn't slow them down.<br/>
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He still had to figure that one out. Red stood by the gate, almost like a stone sentinel with his size and motionless. The man had to be a giant, dwarfing even Holger which was no small feet. Part of Holger wanted to test himself in battle against the Giant, but even Holger knew that was probably a very, very terrible idea. The man held a battle axe that probably weighed as much as the whore Holger had fucked last night - and held it easily in one hand. He could only imagine the devastation the thing would cause. The man didn't speak, apparently, and wouldn't slow them down. Holger was pretty sure they guy could fend for himself if he did get separated.<br/>
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Once satisfied that everything was in place, Holger waited, resting his spear against the edge of the gate. It was still early and only those assigned to this expedition and leg of the journey would be making their way to the East gate at this hour.</span>