[b][center][h3][color=orange] Lein [/color][/h3][/center][/b]
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[b][color=orange]Location:[/color][/b] Roadside, Bandit Camp Approach
[b][color=orange]Interactions:[/color][/b] Cecilia [@Rune_Alchemist], Tyaethe [@Raineh Daze], Alodia [@Rin]
[b][color=orange]Mentions:[/color][/b] Serenity [@ERode]
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Lein's smile didn't falter as Serenity shrugged him off, and instead grew wider at Serenity's retort, entertained at her challenge. [color=orange]"I certainly would like to see a helmet, it would be far too easy otherwise."[/color]  [color=orange][i]And if not, let's see that scrap iron try to stop a dart to the head.[/i][/color] He thought.

He turned to Cecilia, tapping the side of his eyes. [color=orange]"If our man's wearing a helmet, I'll give you my next ration if you can shoot through the visor. If I can, let me try out that bow of yours."[/color] Ever since he had lain his sights on the sparkling green limbs of Cecilia's bow, Lein had always longed for a chance at handling it. His shortbow was good enough at what it did, of fine Hundi make, but surely such an expensive looking bow would fly differently? Though as Lein recalled watching her arrows adjust themselves in flight back at the shooting ranges, he pondered if he just tossed down a weighted gauntlet. 

As he was about move, however, he felt a movement at his side. When he spied Tyaethe's telltale orange scarf next to him, shivers ran up his tail and Lein instinctively covered his neck with his prosthetic arm, his body remembering far faster than his conscious mind can react. [color=orange]"Wait, I haven't even pawned it off ye -"[/color] Lein interrupted himself with a cough as he processed what the vampiric paladin actually instructed and regained his poise, though his tail failed to return to its usual bushiness. Right. Lein just didn't have to have a repeat of *that* incident, and he would be fine. He regarded the sight of the cart in front of them and the oncoming darkness.

[color=orange]"Stop me if you've heard this one - dead horse, broken cart, at dusk, right in the middle of the path of the conquering force they know that's coming, then they don't bother to sic the one man who can tell us where they went? Sloppy."[/color] Lein gave the air a sniff. Fresh blood. Even if it wasn't planned, these thugs would have surely heard the procession moving through and looped back. [color=orange]"Or they know exactly what we're gonna do." [/color]

And the bandits would probably be correct. Whether or not Lein was the one to jump unto the baited trap, the bait would be far too tempting for the more chivalric types to not take. Plus, the [i]honourable[/i] Knights would have no choice but to act their part, in front of all the procession that was watching them from the back. Lein would just have to be the one to try and spot the trap before it closed fully. As he heard Serenity call him out to check their surroundings, he gave an undertone of a grumble and a nervous sideways look at Tyaethe. [color=orange]"Alright, already on it."[/color] And thought to himself, [color=orange]"[i]'Sir'[/i]. Urgh." [/color]

He looked back toward Dame Alodia, who gracefully toppled over from her mount. Though her strengths over basic athletic skills was questionable, her lack of restraint at not obliterating her target unsuitable for anything approximating stealth, Lein had spied her command over fire back in the castle. If she decided to not burn down the forest, she would be perfect at lighting the place up. [color=orange]"If you can send out a light or something, more than appreciated."[/color]

As Lein moved out toward the brush to scout out any dangers that would jump on them, his gait shifted to one of a stalker's, tail lowered and ears perked up, his body low to the ground and all movement with the purpose of silencing his steps. With a muted clack his prosthetic arm reached back and drew his trusted shortbow. His real hand slipped on a thumb ring and a fletched arrow, holding it knocked and ready to fly at a moment's notice. Lein carefully surveyed the branches and the foilage for any movements and the air for sweat. The darkness would make it more difficult, but Lein had hunted elusive game in the dark before.