[h3]Balian[/h3]

The ranger had not yet gone up to his room, he knew what to expect a bedroll, a bedpan and if lucky a window, perhaps a desk. Well fed earlier in the evening, consuming his share of meat, bread and ale entertainment was not planned but well provided by the mercenary, a large man winning gold crowns beating all who opposed him in a drinking competition. At some point in the evening he had felt like someone had been watching him but hadn’t been able to pinpoint who with all the other distractions in the inn. He shook it off as harmless. He had noticed that some of those who were in the tavern were certainly not the serfdom or any class of Galloway, others well armed, perhaps adventurers, warriors, a monk and even what seemed to be another ranger, female although Balian was unsure exactly.

[hr]

It had grown late and Balian had been on the verge of retiring to his room for the night and awaiting for what tomorrow would bring, when the commotion began. The guards running down the street in force, lighting lanterns, it all seemed so ominous. The tolling of the town bell was when the ranger realized something was wrong although sat quietly still while other patrons began to rush around. Balian checked his quiever, bow, sword and dagger his first thought towards beastmen. Knowing what threat they posed in number began to formulate a plan. Follow the guards, and fight. Running now of course would be wiser in the interest of ones personal safety but he felt lured to the fight, almost bound. 

The ranger stood and made his way towards the small group of men crowding around the window facing onto the street, tankards in hand trying to get a glimpse. He attempted to lean over them and look but when this failed ushered them out of the way, one man cursed attempting to start an argument in his drunken state until he saw the weapons at Balian’s disposal. However he hadn’t noticed the patrons rambling, instead he was looking onward down the street, not able to make out much when a second patrol of similarly armed city guardsmen trotted down the street. 

“What’s out that way?” He asked one of the other patrons curiously trying to look through the window although a couple of others stood  in the now open doorway of the tavern.

“Just the town cemetery, nothing but bones and dirt.” The townsman shook his head and sipped from his tankard. “Apparently built over an ancient burial ground but I’m not sure how much I-” Balian cut him off, thanking him and heading for the doorway pushing his way onto the street.