[hr][hr][center][h1][i][b][color=b8860b]Reginald Keystone[/color][/b][/i][/h1]
[img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/bee7cdf3-093c-430b-91b1-6433cbfb2ac7.gif[/img][/center]
[hr][center][color=darkgoldenrod][b]Location:[/b][/color] Benha (Train to Athribis)
[color=b8860b][b]Skills:[/b][/color] Observation [/center][hr][hr] 

	Indeed the subject of branding was of the utmost of importance, being as this Fellowship was linked together for the most part by a series of odd, symbolic dreams, waking visions, and physical manifestations aplenty, this being most notable by the unnatural searing of the skin present on some of their number. The worst of it that he had gotten for himself was a particularly horrifying (but oddly interesting) dream about a jackal-headed fellow remotely removing Reginald's own heart while creatures most inhuman warred very nearby. Well, and the [i]udjat[/i] ring dream that brought them all together in the first place. Well, most of them. The Lord Major's mind fluttered over to the other representative of the Royal Armed Forces present for the excursion. Why was he with them, again? 

	Reginald shook the thought from his head. They were all bound together by fate, or design of ancient powers, or whatever passed for either of those these tumultuous days. Everyone was there for a reason, even if that reason was unknown at the present. Besides, the old man needed to keep his mind in the present. He was on a grand adventure, possibly the last one of his life. He should enjoy and experience everything to its fullest while he had the opportunity. 

	But back to the issue of branding. It was being handled in conversation with their new friends from overseas and Miss Kingston. And Gene. Yes, Gene. To be diplomatic about the woman, Reginald might state that, despite the spirited and outgoing nature of the young lady, he was simply not swept away by her natural charisma nor force of personality. While not speaking his thoughts aloud, he did respond to her affirmation of what passed for permission to take the seat next to him with a cautious look and raised brow; the kind of expression that you might give a person who just told you that they had live snakes in their waistcoat pockets. Did you believe them? Could you afford not to? Did you know the person well enough to tell the difference? The tiniest of shrugs later, he dismissed the thought with a simple, [color=b8860b]"Quite. Do make yourself comfortable, madame."[/color] 

	His perusal of the train did not reveal any faces that were out of place, but he did try to keep track of some of the faces just in case they popped up later on. Naturally, as they were all going to the same place, that was a very likely possibility. It was good policy anyway. One could never tell who was friend or who was foe while "in country". He used the opportunity presented by looking about to respond to J.C. on a matter much more trivial, as the women and Mahendra discussed the branding, though he pitched his voice a bit quieter as not to override the existing conversation with something a hair toward the risque of topic: [color=b8860b]"Indeed, sir. A military man, that Mr. Benaszewski. I had always longed for a time that service to King and Country (or whatever you Colonials swear armed allegiance toward, do forgive my ignorance, sir), did not involve the rigors of those cheeky little invaders known to the line soldiery as "Trouser Lice". Be it from camp followers or improper laundering duty, many a good man has been laid low by the beasts. Not even the basic regimentation that ants possess, and I'm not a man who lobbies for their cause, either. Hmm..."[/color] Reginald frowned a bit, at this point absolutely certain that, in his rambling about communicable parasites, he had forgotten something important. 

	Though as long as his mind was drifting about in thought, not to mention enjoying the conversation [i]and[/i] the view from the train windows, the memory of him waking up to a camel spider above his bed come to the forefront. He generally rested with his sword nearby; it was a fine weapon and the habit of keeping it nearby had saved his bacon in the past, as it did again concerning the offending creature. Was that part of the whole parcel of odd happenings that befell everyone, or merely a coincidence that happened occasionally along the Nile? Well, his windows has better be fitted with the parts he ordered to prevent such a thing again upon his return to the Qasr El Nil Barracks. 

[hider=Roll Request]
[b]Reginald Keystone[/b]  
Characters current location - [i]Train to Athribis[/i]
Characters attempted actions - [i]Viewing the scenery outside of the train[/i]
Any and all skills being used - [i]Observation[/i]
Why each skill is being called - [i]Taking note of anything interesting or out of place[/i]
Desired location of the character - [i]Not relocating[/i]
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[hr][hr][center][h1][i][b][color=bdb76b]Haring Reddish[/color][/b][/i][/h1]
[img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/bc984338-f6d5-4803-b256-c66503999ea8.jpg[/img][/center]
[hr][center][color=darkkhaki][b]Location:[/b][/color] Benha (Bazaar)
[color=bdb76b][b]Skills:[/b][/color] Arabic [/center][hr][hr]

	One thing was for certain: That merchant had definitely lost himself a customer. 

	Thoughts of buttering the guy up and allowing marginal advantage in the haggling was meeting its swift and dramatic end as a flash of steel arced out from the man, scoring Josephine across her face. [i]Her face[/i]. Reddish could get half of the skin on his own visage peeled away by artillery exploding nearby and he would still be able to do his job, although he'd probably never be allowed near state functions ever again. But Josephine? No, this would not do. The man had a blade out. Blood had been drawn. A very different form of Corporal Reddish came instantly to the forefront as, for a mere fraction of a second, his hand strayed to his belt where his Webley pistol rested. His eyes took on a terrifyingly blank aspect, and his other hand which had hung by his side twitched, the impulse to go for something unseen on his person squashed as soon as it flared up.  

	No. There were three of them. He could not get put into jail and summarily executed for murdering three people in broad daylight in the middle of a marketplace. That is exactly what it would be, murder; and then there was no telling what would become of Josephine. As a western female foreigner, she had no legal rights here. Just being out in public by herself could get her arrested or worse. British Commonlaw was no longer the ultimate arbiter of legal procedure in Egypt, and even when it was this kind of thing happened all the time. 

	Unfortunately, they did not have a lot of options. He would just [i]love[/i] to sink a blade into the base of the man's skull, but nothing that he did was against the existing law of the land. So Reddish listened to the religious vitriol of the man who was very much a product of his time and place. He refused to answer or comment for fear of where his more headstrong nature would carry the exchange. Besides, the clock was ticking with Josephine. He had seen (and experienced) enough battlefield injuries to know that the chances to avoid scarring dropped the longer the wound was untended. She was an actress. Makeup could cover a lot, but damnit, he didn't want to take any chances he didn't have to. 

	Reddish took up a place at Josephine's side and applied pressure to the wound with his uniform handkerchief. [color=bdb76b]"Hold that to your face, ma'am,"[/color] he said with a grim, quiet voice. [color=bdb76b]"Doctor, now."[/color] There was urgency and understanding in his words. Reddish began to lead the starlet away from the area, looking for a something resembling a medical facility. Maybe toward the Docks as businesses flourished around incoming trade, but he kept his options open. [color=bdb76b]"The boat will have to come back this way, and if we're on it... Best served icy, Miss Clarke. "[/color] He maintained his search, asking questions as needed to passersby.  

	He didn't have the heart to tell her yet that he had heard the sounds of someone haggling over a watch somewhere nearby. The chances that it was the same one were remote anyway, and this was about Josephine's future, not her past. 


[hider=Roll Request]
[b]Haring Reddish[/b]  
Characters current location - [i]Bazaar[/i]
Characters attempted actions - [i]Locate medical help[/i]
Any and all skills being used - [i]Arabic, Observation[/i]
Why each skill is being called - [i]Ask for directions to and personally look for a doctor[/i]
Desired location of the character - [i]Wherever medical help might be, considering Docks if one closer isn't found[/i]
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