When asked by Ahmya about the court, Yda gave a polite answer alongside a correction.
"The young master isn't the duke. The Lord Corbain, his father, is. He's beholden to the king. The court is an expression for nobles around here. It's mostly about the political theater that nobles go through."
Cinder's question of animals was met with another polite answer.
"Most animals around here are pretty docile. Rabbits, deer, birds. Bears and wolves occasionally. Monsters are repelled, so it's safe in that regard. I still wouldn't recommend you going without a guard. The bears here are really something."
Once they stepped out of the forest pass and into the clearing where the fortress resided, Ahmya had asked Yda a considerably important question. Again, her answer was polite. Not extraordinarily friendly or unfriendly, but polite.
"Washroom is inside, first floor, fifth door on the left side of the left hallway for women. Men's is on the right. after you enter the foyer."
Orsender had then asked Yda about food. Food was always important. After all, soldiers (of the gods, in this case) traveled on their stomachs. Suddenly falling from the sky and smashing into the ground at mach 3 had a tendency to awaken the stomachs of those who hadn't eaten in, well, forever.
"As for food, ask the servants. He'll tell the cook to get you guests a meal."
As the large oni began to size Yda up, the disinterested knight suddenly glared directly into his eyes. From relaxing, glancing at the landscape and closing her eyes, she had aggressively made eye contact with him almost exactly when he began to think about a fight. Almost instantly, she went back to a more laid back and lackadaisical expression (as far as a knight could go, really).
Meanwhile, Annalee had went ahead and entered the residence first. Revealed to her (and by extension anyone else who entered) was a grand foyer. Above her, a crystalline chandelier filled with illuminating magic stones cast light into the crevices that sunlight couldn't reach. The floor was covered in ornate tiles, rough from years of walking but still maintained well. Two round stairs formed a circle leading up to the second floor. To the left and right, a hallway. To the front, a great, ornate door shut tight. Next to one of the six half-pillars holding a vase, a suited old man with small, round glasses on the bridge of his nose rubbed dust off of a vase.
"Ah," the old man replied to her sudden vote. His voice was hoarse from years of speaking. "I shall fetch a meal for our guest...s."
Orsender freely entered the residence as the old man spoke, nothing to stop his aggressive entry. Not that anything would, except for maybe a door jam. Annalee would have had to bust through it first, if that was the case. While initially startled by the sudden appearance of the oni, his wizened experience (or perhaps reaching the age that danger no longer phased him) kicked in and he went straight back to business. The old man gave a bow to the guests and walked down the right hallway.
Before she entered, Sayako's paranoia resulted in little more than almost stumbling over a few roots. Her attempt at visual intimidation for free booze had resulted in little more than a feeling of staring at a brick wall.
"You can ask someone inside for that."
It was still polite. Not friendly in the slightest, though.
"The young master isn't the duke. The Lord Corbain, his father, is. He's beholden to the king. The court is an expression for nobles around here. It's mostly about the political theater that nobles go through."
Cinder's question of animals was met with another polite answer.
"Most animals around here are pretty docile. Rabbits, deer, birds. Bears and wolves occasionally. Monsters are repelled, so it's safe in that regard. I still wouldn't recommend you going without a guard. The bears here are really something."
Once they stepped out of the forest pass and into the clearing where the fortress resided, Ahmya had asked Yda a considerably important question. Again, her answer was polite. Not extraordinarily friendly or unfriendly, but polite.
"Washroom is inside, first floor, fifth door on the left side of the left hallway for women. Men's is on the right. after you enter the foyer."
Orsender had then asked Yda about food. Food was always important. After all, soldiers (of the gods, in this case) traveled on their stomachs. Suddenly falling from the sky and smashing into the ground at mach 3 had a tendency to awaken the stomachs of those who hadn't eaten in, well, forever.
"As for food, ask the servants. He'll tell the cook to get you guests a meal."
As the large oni began to size Yda up, the disinterested knight suddenly glared directly into his eyes. From relaxing, glancing at the landscape and closing her eyes, she had aggressively made eye contact with him almost exactly when he began to think about a fight. Almost instantly, she went back to a more laid back and lackadaisical expression (as far as a knight could go, really).
Meanwhile, Annalee had went ahead and entered the residence first. Revealed to her (and by extension anyone else who entered) was a grand foyer. Above her, a crystalline chandelier filled with illuminating magic stones cast light into the crevices that sunlight couldn't reach. The floor was covered in ornate tiles, rough from years of walking but still maintained well. Two round stairs formed a circle leading up to the second floor. To the left and right, a hallway. To the front, a great, ornate door shut tight. Next to one of the six half-pillars holding a vase, a suited old man with small, round glasses on the bridge of his nose rubbed dust off of a vase.
"Ah," the old man replied to her sudden vote. His voice was hoarse from years of speaking. "I shall fetch a meal for our guest...s."
Orsender freely entered the residence as the old man spoke, nothing to stop his aggressive entry. Not that anything would, except for maybe a door jam. Annalee would have had to bust through it first, if that was the case. While initially startled by the sudden appearance of the oni, his wizened experience (or perhaps reaching the age that danger no longer phased him) kicked in and he went straight back to business. The old man gave a bow to the guests and walked down the right hallway.
Before she entered, Sayako's paranoia resulted in little more than almost stumbling over a few roots. Her attempt at visual intimidation for free booze had resulted in little more than a feeling of staring at a brick wall.
"You can ask someone inside for that."
It was still polite. Not friendly in the slightest, though.
