[center][h2]Ladies in Uniform[/h2][/center]

[@Blizz]

Stratya Durmand had been following her nose, after hearing a rumor of a decorated military veteran's arrival to town. She didn't have anything specific to go on, just a hunch and a few quick questions here or there. The first place to investigate were the outer stables, and sure enough, a horse there was obviously the steed of someone important, for all the heraldry.

For all the heraldry, she didn't recognize it. Strange. She would have to research the coat of arms and colors to see if she could figure it out, short of asking the owner of the horse directly. It wasn't too hard to figure out where the woman went. The stablehands recalled her clearly, as did a number of people on the streets, so she followed a loose trail through the city until she spotted the woman who must have been the one. The colors matched, and her garb was of the same calibur.

"[color=peru]Greetings, and welcome to our fair city.[/color]" Stratya would try to approach openly from the front, a soft smile and amiability at the front of her presentation. It wasn't hard, as it was her natural inclination to be welcoming and kind. It was the thing that told her when she should stay her hand. Something else told her when she could. "[color=peru]Do you despise the usual pageantry? A guest of your clear status would normally have an accompaniment of some kind.[/color]"

The General ran her eyes up and down this armored woman, who walked with purpose and authority, just like her. Everything from the sword to the way her eyes looked right into Lyra’s made her clearly of high status. [color=be003a]”My accompaniment is being taken care of at the stables, currently, though I wouldn’t be opposed to some striking company such as yourself.”[/color] The notion of intrigue overtook the General. “Intrigue,” of course, meaning a pretty face in a foreign land.

[color=be003a]”Genetal Lyra Carris of Baltyria. A pleasure to meet you.”[/color] As the word "General" left the lips of the woman in front of her, the Captain's mind snapped into a higher gear. The response to her presence has been entirely underwhelming, but perhaps… Lyra wanted it that way.

This general was not one for pageantry, no. Or protocol, but who could blame you when you were... probably on vacation? She was waving around status when it made things convenient and forgoing all the inconveniences. It sang of the tactical decisions made to protect precious vacation time. "[color=peru]You've vastly outpaced your entourage. You had breakfast and they're still not ready? If you're not opposed to a working tour, I could show you around the city.[/color]"

[color=be003a]”My… entourage consists solely of a horse. Though, if you are offering, a tour of the city sounds lovely. I’ve heard it’s beautiful this time of year. You seem to be of high status yourself, miss. Who might you be?”[/color]

"[color=peru]You came with only your horse?[/color]" She must not be an active general, then. To allow your general to wander around, so vulnerable as this? Of course, officially, they would be relying on Caesonian defenses to ensure her safety, but without [i]any[/i] sort of personal detail? Interesting. "[color=peru]Well then, I suppose I will be your detail. Stratya Durmand, Knight Captain. I've got to stop by the warehouses, so shall we?[/color]"

"[color=peru]It must have been a long journey. Is your horse good conversation? How far is it, to Baltyria?[/color]" Without someone to talk to, it must have been lonesome. But, some folk are like that.

The General fell in step with the Captain. [color=be003a]”Baltyria is far enough away that a month has passed since the start of this journey. My horse and I have been on such journeys before, and this is not new to either of us. He will be taken care of. Lead the way, Captain Durmand.”[/color] 

On to the matter of nobility appearing late at night by the warehouses. She'd heard an interesting rumor, but she needed someone willing to talk to her. She shouldn't have changed into her armor yet. It made it more difficult to find someone to inform her. Luckily, she did know a guy who heard a lot of things. She'd probably have to pay him, though.

The guy ran a little concession and news stand that he liked to move around a lot. It wasn't terribly hard to find him, if you knew how to track him down. His news was varied and usually very up-to-date, though she wasn't sure he'd have this bit of information on paper already or at all.

The cart was easy enough to spot. "[color=peru]Ah, let me get a drink, quickly.[/color]" There was a menu of drinks on the bulletin board, along with various news headlines. "[color=peru]I'll get you something, too.[/color]" The woman would pop around to the front of the cart for just a minute or two, to exchange with the manager and ascertain more details before returning with two glass bottles. "[color=peru]It's just something sweet. As for the warehouse… seems there was a party.[/color]" Maybe a party with drugs, but that was something for the guard to handle. The nobles probably just wanted to have a good time, so they went to the party. The princess had appeared as well, apparently, which was… great. But that was all the information he had for her. The princess's appearance was alarming, but did not warrant investigation. "[color=peru]Not the kind of thing I'm wont to disrupt - not like there's to be anything to break up at this point, anyway.[/color]"

[color=be003a]”I won’t be alerting any guards either. We have more important matters, after all, don’t we?”[/color] Lyra commented as she took a drink from the bottle Stratya handed her. [color=be003a]What is it that we are looking for?”[/color]

"[color=peru]There is, however, a rumor floating around. A group of nobles, and the princess, were seen at[/color]" the captain searched for the word, "[color=peru]an… unbecoming party.[/color]" That was perhaps the best way to say it. "[color=peru]I only managed to happen upon the rumor because I was out of uniform. Certainly, not the kind of talk to be had in front of a knight. I have ascertained the location of such a party that occurred last night. If it is not something that would bore you, I suppose we could see what the party has left behind.[/color]"

An unbecoming party. Alright, now the General was somewhat curious. [color=be003a]”To think nobles would be in such a position that their dealings would be heard. What do you know about this incident? You have my curiosity now, Captain.”[/color] She had heard rumors of terrible things brewing in the kingdom, and this could be what she was looking for. Best not to let this woman know just yet, however.

"[color=peru]Nothing terribly concrete. I only have some hearsay to go on, but I do have the likely location. Whether it is the one in question is uncertain, but I suppose we can poke our noses in. It is this way.[/color]" Captain Durmand led the way through the streets, toward the warehouses by the coast. "[color=peru]In just the kind of place you want to be when you're wealthy and important, of course.[/color]" At night. Secretly. Without a single guard or knight.

"[color=peru]Curious, though. A warehouse party isn't exactly a high-class event. How do you suppose a classy lady like the princess comes to interact with such a party? It isn't like the dock hands get around that much inside the walls, and I can't imagine the servants would be caught speaking of such things in front of anyone.. of class. So how did she come to be here?[/color]"

[color=be003a]”She would have planned to come in secret, I assume. Someone of royalty’s stature would be noticed moving about through her own city, so she would have hidden herself from plain sight, either by concealment or traveling through areas where few people go. Someone so important wouldn't be missed. I believe she’d take great care to plan such an event. Though, I don’t understand why it wouldn’t be easier to hold such a meeting in the castle. Commoners are not free to roam a castle.”[/color] Lyra mused out loud. 

[color=be003a]”How would you have gotten here, if you were her?”[/color]

"[color=peru]Oh, probably some secret passage behind the bookcase or something like that. Straight out of a story book because story books often have some measure of truth to them, when you look in the right places.[/color]" They took a turn, heading among the rows of warehouses. "[color=peru]That's not what I'm interested in, not quite what I meant by 'how'. How she got there specifically, the vehicle and course, isn't important, but why. What events led her there, that kind of how. First, we shall see what traces we can find.[/color]"

Lyra followed the Captain, her eyes flicking from one warehouse to the next quicker than they should have. [color=be003a]Royalty often do things that they shouldn’t. In politics, in war. In their daily lives. It wouldn’t be much of a stretch to assume the princess thought her title would give her a layer of insulation from the consequences of attending this event, whatever happened, that is. It could be that she thought she simply [i]could,[/i] more than anything.”[/color]

"[color=peru]Yes, but I would like to think she wouldn't simply follow someone out from the castle on that person's whim. If the princess would like to go to a party, that's fine, but the careless manner in which she came troubles me. That I haven't heard of this would tell me she was unguarded. Someone drew her out.[/color]" Stratya approached one of the warehouses. Her informant said this was the one. "[color=peru]Alas, this is just speculation. I need more information.[/color]"

If she was lead here, it would have to have been someone she trusts. However, there is also the possibility that she learned of the party and decided to come on her own... but who informed her?

At any rate, she had to get in to the warehouse. Would the guard try and argue with her, or let them in?