<div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">Heya Allie, and welcome to the game! :3 You’ve got an interesting character in Brady, and I’m curious to see how she’ll factor into our little group! &gt;:3</div></div></div><br/><br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div>“I wish I could this city was born of human culture. This marvel is far more then anything I’ve seen within human territory. War is a truly a pity, I hope this one doesn’t last long. I’ve known a few anthro’s within my time…only in Vanadiel mind you, but I came to enjoy all of their company. The culture within Southmourne has some amazing legends and stories. Our cultures have so much to offer one another. Hopefully when this needless war expires we can go back to being neighbors and allies once again.”</div></blockquote><br/><br/>Alexei listened quietly and Vendra spoke, grinning slightly as he looked down at the girl. He hadn’t been sure how she would have taken his advances, given that silence and suspicious looks were all he had tossed her way in the time they were together. However, once he saw her smile at his words he immediately felt his uneasiness drift out of his mind. It was soon followed by a warm feeling the solitary wolf rarely felt, usually too tied up in his own concerns of survival for the thought to cross his mind. Still, he fell naturally into the mindset, so it couldn’t possibly be a bad thing, right?<br/><br/>“I’m glad your past experiences with our kind have been pleasant,” he answered softly, turning his gaze to the wide cityscape beyond. “I feel it’s easy to dismiss us as common animals, so it’s nice to know some can appreciate our ways as a culture.” Letting out a sigh, he shifted his weight before looking up at the sky. “Southmourne has its beauties, yet from what you’ve said of Vanadiel it sounds like a gem of a city as well. It truly is saddening that this conflict has to be another thing they have in common, and that those with power feel the need to maintain that.”<br/><br/>His ears perked up as Kahmori replaced the stopper in his waterskin, and the leery wolf decided it best to end their conversation lest the kitsune have an issue with him bothering his slave. Turning to face Vendra, he lowered himself to one knee and placed a hand on her shoulder. “If we all have to be thrown into this war, though, at least we can watch out for each other when we can.” Grinning softly, he picked himself up and trotted away shortly before the fox returned.<br/><br/>Crossing his arms, he made motions to follow Leon to the keep, yet he found himself dragging his heels while Kahmori spoke to Vendra himself. Although he chose to respect their privacy and not listen into their conversation, he could tell from their posture that he was at last taking the initiative to comfort her, a thought that maintained the grin currently spread on her muzzle. However, he soon found his gaze drifting to Xali, his brow furrowed in thought as he tracked the leopardess’s movements. He could tell she wasn’t quite as moved by the human girl’s situation as he was, although he could understand why after their little spat a moment ago. Nonetheless, he hoped no further issues would arise from her cavalier attitude, especially in moments when larger problems could arise. Fortunately, she seemed alright for now, and there didn’t seem to be a reason for things to escalate again.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">At the keep…</span><br/><br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div>”Three weeks ago a scout of mine was deployed to scan along the northwestern border where Caleb’s forces had been massing. Before she could even reach the outer edges however she was attacked by what she described as a ghoul. I can’t tell you how troublesome this is for our forces. A single necromancer could easily make an army over night.”</div></blockquote><br/><br/>The instant the words “dire situation” rang down Alexei’s ears, he knew something serious was going on. Ever since their arrival at Lakehaven, the people have been bright and optimistic, enjoying themselves far more than one would except in a wartime situation. The sudden tension brought by the large tiger resonated in the wolf’s mind, who was always sensitive to pick up on potentially dangerous situations whenever he was involved. Thus, as Helix explained the circumstances, nary a word escaped his jaws while he centered his focus on the general.<br/><br/>A scout attacked by a ghoul. It was not an idea that sat well with the lupine. Although he had never ran into the necromancy types during his travels, he had read enough rather unsavory literature of those kinds of magicians to cause a shudder to course through his body. It felt so violating to the wolf. Disturbing the peace of those who had found restful slumber. Wishing the world dead so that they would have more subjects to play with. Bringing to the surface what dread and disease best lay out of sight beneath six feet of earth. No matter what philosophy he saw it from, it felt exceedingly wrong, and he found himself pitying the poor scout that had to experience their presence.<br/><br/>The wolf could tell what Helix wanted of them before he even said it: He wanted them to track down this ghoul and perhaps rout out who was responsible for it. In turn, it begged the question as to how they’d deal with him. It was one of the few moments where their predatory natures wouldn’t be much of a card to play, since the prospect of holding a reanimated corpse in their guts was unappetizing at best. That left him his large polearm to play with, the heavy blade likely a match even for decomposing flesh chunks. At last, he’d be able to show that his special duom was for a lot more than show, a thought that caused his tail to swish playfully while he listened on.<br/><br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div>“This is why you were recruited. I need a select few that can perform a number of tasks that our normal military soldiers can’t handle. A small group isn’t going to take the notice of Caleb's forces that a large legion of my soldiers would. I need recruits that go by instinct instead of protocol. Recruits that use the animalistic ways that made us the foes to dread that we are today.”</div></blockquote><br/><br/>Alexei knew Helix intended to fire them up for their mission, much the way Kahmori had done throughout the whole trip, yet something about the way he worded his phrase left a sour taste in his mouth. It felt almost like déjà vu, alluding to the tense moment they had shortly after their arrival and the words he had shared with Vendra a few minutes earlier. Yes, they were animals, and they could derive pride from the immense power that came with it. But, at the same time they were more than animals, and if it wasn’t for the war perhaps they’d be more inclined to appreciate what that part of their persona had to offer. Letting out a huff, he maintained his composure and looked on at the tiger. He’d go along with this war business, but he didn’t have to savor it.<br/><br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div>“She’s pretty devious in nature. Though her stealth abilities needs a little work. Brady, come meet your new companions.”</div></blockquote><br/><br/>Like Xali, the lupine didn’t have the presence of mind to scan over his surroundings. From what he could infer, there was little reason to search for danger, especially in the heart of a military city such as Lakehaven. However, his ears perked up interestedly at Helix’s mention of the scout’s presence, and he found himself peering over his shoulder at the entry way to see who it was… only to find no one there. It was not until Brady dropped her cover that he realized they weren’t alone.<br/><br/>Although Alexei had never thought much of scouts for some obscure reason, he had to admit that the sneaky reptile girl was a lot less than he expected. She was a toss-up with the human for the smallest figure in the room, hardly reaching up to his chest even with the bright purple hair. Helix’s “devious” seemed so out of place while he watched the cute form materialize, her thin youthful figure so seemingly innocent to the eye. It hardly seemed such a figure could have any predatory skills whatsoever, but the wolf kept himself from jumping to conclusions. Some of the finest hunters he knew came in the smallest packages, not to mention that strange glowing crystal of hers held all the indication of unseen power he needed…<br/><br/>He stood back for a few moments while his companions made their greetings, closing his eyes and shaking his head slightly upon listening to Kahmori’s description of the undead. Uncrossing his arms, he let a casual grin to cross his face as he stepped forward. “I was wondering who the scout that was unfortunate enough to encounter that ghoul was,” he greeted, offering her his paw for a shake. “Anyone who can get through something like that must have a good degree of skill driving their hand. I go by Alexei Nocturne. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Brady.”