past the castle gates

[garmr]

Who: Guts and Friends
When: April!
Where: Multiple
What: Catch-all for April, including influence threads
Warnings: None yet!

[If you'd like a starter, feel free to DM or ping at hematite

Comments

gnot yet

[garmr]

[Took him long enough. To Guts' credit, he does stop to listen to Lalli's Scouting Report with none of the distaste he held whenever they usually exchanged words. He may be a nasty piece of work, but he was an equally professional bloodthirsty mercenary, so he puts aside some of that enmity to consider his options.]

Five, huh? Ain't that path the fastest way to the mountain ores?

[A group in a hurry may not be interested in them at all, but really, he could use a fight to get his juices flowing.]

i can't believe i laughed

[ilves]

[The list of things Lalli Does Not Know is a mile long, but scouting? This is his thing, which is why that dumb question of Guts' earns him a Look. If you're going for speed, you avoid needlessly engaging enemies... duh...]

Not if they stop us? [Or if they're, like, meeting up with more of their friends, but what Lalli says is:] Don't be stupid.

[Lalli can slip by enemies undetected; he's incredibly confident about that, but this giant man sneaking through the underbrush???? Laughable.]

it’s just gnatural

[garmr]

[Its been several days outside the city and he hasn’t been able to punch a single wildman or bandit?? Come on, Lalli.]

It’s the shorter path. I haven’t seen anythin’ in these woods that’s worth worryin’ about.

[Five guys is something he can slice through with one swing of his sword - if it even comes to that.]

god

[ilves]

[Because Lalli made sure to steer them away from anything dangerous! Because Lalli is the best scout! But obviously his best efforts AND his professionalism are wasted on this egg-toting dummy, so:]

Pfh.

[And that about sums it up, really, but... fine, fine. He'll glance back at the path in question and use his words.]

We didn't come here to fight.

[garmr]

If you say so.

[Lalli had a point, which really is the worst part of this whole affair. As unwelcoming as he was, Guts does know when to defer to someone who was pretty skilled in what they do. He wasn't so arrogant as to blow him off altogether. Though it does come with its reminder:]

You don't need to be so worried about every nobody we might cross paths with.

[You have a tank in your party. He's good at being both scary and dangerous.]

[ilves]

[His partner might be imposingly large, but could he handle five or more people on his own? Lalli has no clue; he's yet to see Guts in action, but he'd rather err on the side of caution in this unknown territory rather than, like, wind up stuck out here for who knows how long. He has a friend he needs to keep an eye on.]

I'm not worried. [Tch!] I just want to finish this and go back. Soon.

[Because he had to cut off the mental link he shares with Emil in order to conserve some magic, and he's antsy! Best friend things.

Anyway, does this mean they're heading for the path with zero (0) people? Yes?? Because he sure is going to turn and walk that way...]

thank u for ur patience

[garmr]

The sword ain't here for decoration, but suit yourself.

[He could absolutely handle five people on his own, if his attitude here is any indication. Hopefully, Lalli will never have to see the bloody spectacle in person.]

[And so, to the dull, uninteresting path they go. To go pick up some even less interesting rocks. Well, he did sign up for this. It'll be worth it once his Dragonslayer and armor gets the work they need. Why did this Tinker woman feel the need for them to go in her place, anyway?]

np! ur art show sounded neato

[ilves]

[Why, indeed. Not that Lalli is going to complain about some easy money (that he plans to promptly spend on sweets) or the opportunity to run around outside the city walls, but—pfh. He came; he explored; he's ready to head back to better company, which is why he's all but flying up this path.

...Until he notices the strange silence? Not even a bird chirp can be heard ahead of them, and that gives him pause, makes him stop in his tracks and hold up a hand back toward Guts. Stop!! Be still...]

Mrr...

[A quiet, cat-like noise as he tilts his head to the side, listening.]

Something's not right. Up there.

[garmr]

[Guts follows behind him at his own pace, watching Lalli run off ahead. He's guarding the rear, he would tell himself. Or maybe, he's just too bored with the peace of the blasted wood (strange animals and all) to be perfectly alert on the path ahead of him.

He stops in his tracks as his partner does, if a few feet behind, and looks up. Something moves across his blind side. He can't see it - but he can sure hear it, and turns his head to find some leaves floating from the canopy over their heads.]

...

[There - a blurry silhouette in the branches of the woods. His arm emerges from the pitch black of his cloak, but he doesn't quite reach for his sword, yet. Not everyone out here was hostile.]