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"A lone woman walked the roads on a path marked with death. And as night drew in..." a voice was raised in song, drifting through the chill air. The overcast day hid the cloaked individual from view, a chill wind from the West has them huddling for warmth. The figure continued their journey, and around a bend in the road, saw a mighty fortress made of cloth and wood. 

Sighing, the figure rolled their shoulders back, standing tall, despite the short stature, they approached the "Permanent Palisade" the torches the sentries used to see those who came to Campus Magnus revealed the figure of a woman swathed in a black cloak. With a long white staff marked by intricate symbols in hand. 

"Halt!" Called one of the sentries, stopping the figure turned to look at the sentry. "What's your business here, woman?" Rolling her eyes, the woman replied, "I have come to offer my skills in removing the scum in that gods-forsaken tower. I am an accomplished alchemist and my skills could prove very useful."

Standing still the woman's focused internal, she'd heard of the Imperator's dislike of magic and magic users. If necessary she would fight these men, slaughter if she can. But he worries proved for naught, the men stepped aside allowing her entrance. 

"Watch your step, [i]alchemist[/i], we don't suffer fools here." The other sentry growled out, with contemptuous stress on the the word alchemist. Nodding the woman approached them, head bowed, arms straight at her sides. She never let a man, any man talk to her like that. Her fury at their disrespect galled her. 

But, she knew that it was only the first in achieving her goals. Breathing in deeply, she let go of her anger and entered Campus Magnus. 

What greeted her sight, was both more grand, andnless impressive than she thought. The smell in the air of unwashed bodies, and animals, the sight of tents running in a ram shackle sense of order. Like they've been there so long, that the tent's poles themselves are bowed in age.

And the people! Lady above, she expected there to be nothing but gruff soldier men. The kind a passable face could persuade to take her on the journey and do the heavy lifting. But no, she sees tired soldiers, and hard women, even a few children. Shaking her head, the woman walked between the tents.

She needed to find lodgings,  and some way to find a passably strong warrior or some such for her journey. Approaching a large tent, she smelt cooking meat in the air.

A mess hall! Thank the Lady. Ducking into the tent, the woman entered. Walking towards the food pots, she called to the cooks. "Any food for a weary traveler?" The cooks nodded and handed her a bowl of some kind of...stew maybe. But it smelt amazing after her road rations so she wasn't complaining. Sitting down she dug into it with gusto.

When she was finished eating, she departed. Exiting the tent, she saw a young boy of short stature. Calling to him, she said that she heard there was trouble, Imperater Gaius was going to give a sum to any who could cleanse it. She needed him to gather some men for her, so she could go adventuring.  "What's in it for me?" Scowling the woman drew out some coins. "Find me good men, and I'll give you more." Grinning cheekly, the boy ran off, raising a ruckus looking for soldiers to march on the tower. She hoped he found someone worth the coin she gave the boy.

Sitting against a tree, the woman sunk into meditation. 

Moments later she could taste a surge of adrenaline in the air. Feel the snap of magic on her arms. Anger coiled tightly together. Gasping the woman's head flew up, looking for the source. Maybe she could convince...? No, a mage of that power in a place like that was most definitely tied to the empire, surely. Sighing she leaned back, letting wistful dreams go.