[i][b]Eveline De Ficquelmont, Cartelom [/b][/i]

Cartelom wasn't an unfamiliar place to the De Ficquelmont family. While initially of a younger and lower nobility, Her father Leopold De Ficquelmont had through cunning wit, military endeavor, and an intricate understanding of dynamics between houses in Rhogein successfully climbed the ladder within its hierarchy. And the higher he climbed the more frequent his visits to, and the longer his stays in the greater cities of Rhogein,  which due to his military prowess were mostly in Cartelom. And as such Eveline became an increasingly more important piece on her father's chessboard. Feasts, balls and banquets were the main playing fields and her purpose was to befriend the daughters of noblemen, and to court or be courted by their sons. Dressed in ridiculous dresses and absurd hairdos she and the others would put up pretentious facades with the former in mind. The memory of it, brought back upon making her way inside the keep, made her visibly cringe. The keep itself however was nowhere near the state it used to be in, a fitting reflection of how things had changed.

Eveline had taken seat, legs crossed on the floor against the wall of the hall where some like her and many unlike her had gathered to be part of Hannigan's plans. The crowd was a mixture of battle hardened veterans, whom while not all tall and broad shouldered were adorned in armor and weaponry of great quality or had stories written on their faces that clearly made them stand out from the average soldier, who although still well equipped, lacked the look in their eyes telling of what they'd been through out there. And then there were the volunteers much like her, who came to participate despite lacking experience and skill but with a financial need or an optimistic desire to be a part of the greater purpose. Some of them she recognized from the city streets she had walked aimlessly while still in the early shock of the slaughters, others she remembered as sons and daughters of noblemen, albeit they looked nothing like they did in the past. It was as if the last months had brutally beaten something into or out of them. Or maybe it was the lack of ridiculous dress up that revealed them as they truly were. With the facade of superiority stripped away they appeared no different from everyone else.

Then Eveline spotted a clean cut bald head a top an armor all too familiar and a shield on its back with a crest decorating the armor of the only remaining knight in service to her house. Maarten Matteüsz Beldam, towering at least a head above most in the room and nearly as broad as he is tall, a truly intimidating figure with arms and legs the size of tree trunks. The shield was nearly the size of Eveline herself, and the set of Axes attached right underneath it each sufficient to cleave a person in half. Not many were able to wield such heavy equipment. A man revealed himself from behind his broad figure and pointed at Eveline, "You mean her"? She could read from his lips. Maarten turned and his dead serious and often misinterpreted as angry glare turned to what was probably intended to be a kinder expression. It was difficult to read and hardly any different. It took knowing the man to notice the slight changes on his face, but even then it was a tough task to discern. To most his face just always looked the exact same. Angry. In true Maarten fashion he grunted out a low thanks, walked up to Eveline and squatted down in front of her. "Y'didn't forget anything?". He inspected the gear Eveline had brought with her. "Sword, sword, shield, leather padding, food. Tightly strapped and no loose fabric, can't get caught behind anything." She responded, proudly pointing each detail out with her hands.

"Helmet?" he Said softly tapping her on the head. "Don't have one.. yet.." The proud Eveline quickly made way for the student getting scolded by a teacher, even though the man probably didn't intend for it to be as such. "plating?" he said tapping her on the shoulders and stomach, although it felt as if being shoved around. "Not used to moving in that yet." Maarten nodded understandingly and rose up from his squat. "Familiarity with material trumps the material itself. Next time we practice in armor. That is if you don't lose your guts before then". He then noticed the bearded man next to Eveline leaning against the wall. Maarten respectfully nodded at him as to acknowledge the man and his accomplishments. He exchanged no words, but it was as if many had been spoken with that simple nod. "Hannigan will need me. I will join you after all this is done." And so Maarten turned and disappeared into the crowd, for as much as a man like him can blend into one, bald head sticking out a fair bit above the rest. Eveline redirected her gaze and looked up at the bearded man next to her. "Hi." She said and turned her eyes back at the crowd waiting for Hannigan to appear. Heart pounding in anticipation for what she was about to throw herself into.