[center][h1]Bartimus[/h1][/center][hr]
The request from Irthorne made Bartimus hoot with wary consideration. He, a proud warrior, made to babysit a child? It was enough to baffle the poor bird. Even as the young Kara arrived, Bartimus found himself staring at the ground in disbelief. His special charge, his unique labor, to watch over a child that the wizard could not say no to.

Bartimus watched as she offered her hand in greeting, but armed the hand with a knife. It was... endearing in some small respect. Naivete was something he admired, ever since he confronted the opponent that took his home. He looked to Irthorne and gave a nod as he tended to the other members.

"I will take her under my wing, as it were."

Bartimus' gaze swept from the young Kara to the interesting gentleman with the overactive shadow, Lorick. From the moment he saw the man's darker half jump from person to person, and felt his as if his spirit was invaded in most vile fashion, a dangerous sense of caution overcame him. He made a note to treat any further intrusions of his person with the utmost severity.

The outburst at the guards on the part of Irthorne drew Bartimus' attentions to their escortee. He had heard tales whispered over campfires of the strange beasts and horrors that roamed the cavernous dark that lay beneath the earth and dirt. This figure was... so much more that the tales spoke of. It's form repulsed Bartimus but at the same time it intrigued him. He knew enough of the mindflayers of the Underdark to know to begin steeling his mind against intrustion. A wise owl keeps a sharp mind, and a mind of his own.

The appearance of another near-humanoid being put his tense mind slightly more at ease. A spider-woman with a strange contraption in each hand. Bartimus could only assume they were weapons, and was worried that she would carry them so openly. He took a moment to look at his own rusty iron shortsword and his polished silver arming sword. Maybe he would pick up something with a bit more flash later, he mused, feeling slightly jealous.

Bartimus shook his head and dismissed his folly. His ward was to be his new priority. He made his way over to Kara with one hand resting on the pommel of his iron blade. She was conversing with the spiderwoman, Alea, and seemed to be getting rather friendly. He did not want to intrude on the conversation, so he merely stood by at a distance. A very soft feathered sentinel. When she was ready to be spoken to he would introduce himself.

"I am Bartimus. I am to be your... caretaker, as you like. I do hope we can get along, little one."