Tyrrier Reven Hollow

[canisaries]

At the mention of 'margrave', Andre realized - perhaps with embarrassing delay - that this Seir must have been that new lord that had all those 'vampire' rumors surrounding them. Looking at the ninetales' dress, it was no wonder. And the way he was so... convincing, especially after a stare from his shining eyes... Andre doubted the truth was as ridiculous as "yep, he's a vampire alright, he drinks the blood of virgins and sleeps in a coffin", but there was definitely something going on.

Andre briefly wondered if having lenses in his glasses would have made him any less susceptible to Seir's stare. Well, he couldn't get any now. He'd have to protect his wits on his own. Possibly the wits of his comrades as well...

 

[Jackie Cat]

Laura cocked her head slightly. She'd not yet given her name, and neither had they introduced themselves as Wayfarers... this guy seemed to know a lot ahead of time. A quick check-in with Betel told her that he'd met some Wayfarers back in Novelux, and he'd already known them to be offworlders before they'd made that clear. Not totally implausible, but... weird.

"It must be difficult to stay well-informed about goings-on abroad this far north," she said, delicately. The implicit question was 'how the fuck do you know who we are in this remote-ass province that doesn't even have newspapers yet, let alone telegrams?' "But yes, we are here on account of the strange light, at least partly. We've also heard about a lot of strange happenings, and came to investigate. You might say we're looking to make ourselves useful wherever we can."

The peculiar gyarados, for example. Maybe the one that watched the coastal villagers was a kind of sentry, seeking to prevent trespassers reaching the dungeon? It sounded like Seir knew about that already.

(Somehow, Laura doubted some wild gyarados would pose much of an obstacle to the Wayfarers, especially in large numbers.)

Then, since it was pertinent: "We did have a run-in with the dogs, yes – it went fine, all things considered. We also encountered a hostile Kleavor warrior... It seems like maybe Tyrrier has all kinds running about harassing travellers."

It was a carefully-veiled jab. Margrave Seir would surely be responsible for keeping the roads safe, at least in his own province of Revenia. The ambush was then, to some extent, his responsibility. Would he care or not?

 

[Tetra]

So Seir was the Lord they'd heard about? That... made sense, he guessed. Koa found he wasn't sure what to make of Seir now though. A lord and supposed protector... was he a good or a poor one though? Laura voiced the thought nagging at the back of his mind much more diplomatically than he'd planned to.

He wanted to press him more, but the idea of asking anything important in front of a crowd and particularly Garnet didn't seem like the best idea.

Instead, he latched onto the mention of the patron saints. The place reminded him of the Moon islands. "Cresselia and Darkrai lived on this island? Can you tell us anything more about the place? Why is it so sacred?"

 

[Inkedust]

If Seir had taken offence to any of Laura's comments, he showed no sign of it. He looked thoughtful for a moment then exhaled through his nostrils. "I believe I know the individual you are referring to and I must apologise for the trouble. However, while blunt and brutish, he did not appear to be an active threat or danger to Reven Hollow's denizens or any travellers. Word here spreads quickly, allowing me to neutralise any thug, bandit, or darkness-infected pokémon from Malantau. This is the first I've heard of any attack, if it continues, I will handle him personally." It appeared that Pewter had it out for the Wayfarers specifically and did not care for anyone else in the area otherwise, something would've been done about him.

The ninetales then let out a chuckle at the meowth's other comment. It felt good-natured, even if some of the mirth behind it was a bit forced. "Perhaps, but I like to consider myself quite the travelled individual with a healthy amount of curiosity. Word is not so hard to come by if you know where to look. I'm sure a journalistic mind like yours can understand, yes?"

Seir's ears and gaze flicked over to Mhynt and Koa when the topic of the dungeon came up. "Alas! I cannot say for certain, Koa but it being a shrine or resting place for one of the Dreamers is quite plausible. The island itself – the Islet of Light – is said to be the birthplace of several Saints, including our patrons', but not much else is known about it. You will need to delve into it to learn more." He paused, appraising the Wayfarers and their companions, as he considered his next words carefully. The ninetales, opaque as he was, seemed to be genuinely considering whether he should let them go or not.

"While your feats do not carry the same gravitas as they would elsewhere," he finally said, "it would be foolish of me to not see that you are by far the most skilled and equipped for this. Take this as my blessing, and do not worry about those who will try to stop you. I will handle them for you."

 

[Jackie Cat]

Journalistic mind? Howls afar. He fucking knew who she was. It was like waking up to one of her Chatot posts going fucking viral or something.

"We'll certainly investigate the island soon, then. Thank you for your, um. Blessing."

Laura narrowed her eyes and pursed her mouth. He'd made an interesting reply in other ways, too – just casually suggesting there that he singlehandedly protected the entire province, and that he could personally handle anybody for them. A large group of extremely strong offworlders wielding exotic energies. Was this guy another unusually strong fighter? But hadn't he been held captive by Team Miror or something? Maybe he just meant that he had a militia he could levy, or something. Still...

"Handle them... personally?" she asked, as nonchalantly as she could. "You have the, uh... bearing of a capable fighter, if I'm any judge. I'm sure you must have formal combat training?"

Framing it as an opportunity to stress his prestigious background in front of his subjects might tease some personal details out of the inscrutable fox. Or it might not. She'd learn something about him either way.

 

[MintyMimix]

"Well, thank y'all kindly for the blessin'," Ghaspius replied as his grin widened. A hint of mischievous curiosity tugged on the side of his mouth. This lord had a lot going for him — too much, in fact. He knew how to say exactly the right words to butter up and appeal to individual Wayfarer members, not just the group as a whole. Almost as if the answers just came to him in a dream.

"Sounds like 'word' in general gets around in these parts," he said, fiddling with his scarf. His eyes glazed over to the piece of cloth, as his gaze appeared clumsy. "I knew a few places like that. Small towns where everybody knew everybody and everythin' goin' on every which way. Couldn't go twelve seconds without trippin' over gossip, 'cause there wasn't much better to do. But Reven Hollow ain't exactly a small town, is it?"

He scratched his head with a tassel, completing the image of inattentiveness. "Sounds like y'all are really well-read then. I mean, ya gotta be when you're talkin' 'bout stuff like the 'birthplace of Saints'. I like alchemy books myself." The Mismagius let out a chuckle. "So those patrons of yours, what are they like? What do they mean to y'all?"

 

[Butterfree]

Well, Seir sure seemed very familiar with them. Dave supposed the group that'd met him had told him?

If he was the local lord who was supposedly inviting people to his castle to feed on them, then it didn't seem unlikely he was behind shit like the markings in trees, too, if he was now downplaying them. On the other hand, the rumours could just be bullshit, like a lot of rumours.

"How'd you come to be the, uh, Margrave of this region?" he asked. "Sounds like you're pretty influential around these parts."

 

[Namohysip]

Mhynt wasn't sure whether to feel befuddled or offended that 'saved the netherworld from spreading into reality' was considered a footnote just one town over, but she supposed that was the cost of not being as visible... and the world being more disconnected. This place was too big. She missed Kilo.

"What should we prepare for, should we go there?" Mhynt asked straightforwardly.

 

[Inkedust]

"It is nothing. Should you approach the dungeon, I imagine that you will be dealing with the local wilderen and whatever power the dungeon beholds." In short, expect Radiance and lots of it. Oddly, for a dungeon that was supposedly the shrine of Forlas' Dream Duo, he made no mention of dreams or sleep. "Unfortunately, I am unable to tell you more without seeing the dungeon for myself."

His gaze shifted to Laura, then Dave. "A combination of things," he answered. "The first is that I am well trained in the art of combat and I was able to impress the preceding lords and ladies before me. After protecting the region from a pack of those infected by the darkness, I was able to impress the current Lady of Revenia, Lady Ida, into courtship." He politely bowed his head as he spoke. "To have her paw so kindly extended to me in union... It was quite the honour."

Finally to Ghaspius, his gaze shifted into something that looked far from impressed. "I must apologise, but I believe I already mentioned that I am quite the well-travelled and read individual. The Saints overlook this region as symbols of luck, prosperity, and act as wards from any encroaching darkness that may come." He gestured his head vaguely north, towards Malantau. It seemed that whatever happened there so long ago had a profound effect on the folklore of Revenia.

Seir looked like he was about to say more but the sound of the tavern door swinging open halted any further conversation. "My lord!" cried a winded gligar. "Hostile blights have been spotted north of the town! They're headed straight for us!"

The ninetales immediately stood up, looking back at the Wayfarers. "I must apologise but it seems that our encounter has been cut short. You should rest now if you plan on exploring the dungeon. Farewell, I imagine that we will meet again soon."

Without another word, Seir followed the gligar out the tavern. The air hung still over the tavern goers for a moment longer before they returned to their conversations. But as they did, a pensive frown began to form across Bellatrix's muzzle as she considered what had transpired. It was subtle, almost unnoticeable, but whenever Seir's gaze fell on her...

Was he glaring at her?

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[Chibi Pika]

Later in the evening, Ralsen sat at a wooden table in the tavern, sipping from a drink and perusing some of his research notes. After the meeting with Lord Seir, he'd extended an offer to speak with some of the Wayfarers after they had rested from the long journey. He wasn't sure if he expected any of them to take him up on it, and instinctively might have said that it made no difference, but... that wasn't exactly the case, if he were being honest with himself. He'd been thinking back on the conversation at the museum more often than a normal chat would merit, that much was true. What Steven had told him...

As he waited, the Grovyle's eyes traced the effigies of the patron saints that decorated the door frames. Darkrai and Cresselia, huh...

 

[Jackie Cat]

Laura wrung her paws, splaying and clenching repeatedly as she tried to get the feeling of winter chill out of her digits. Thank fuck for Steven's gift of heat rock gloves, or she'd be fucking dying right about now. She'd just come back from a brief expedition to find a minor dungeon to anchor so that Wayfarers could come and go from Tyrrier – Steven included. It was the least she could do.

(Actually, she could have done much less. Right now, with pins and needles in her rapidly warming joints, she kinda wished she had done less.)

Back in the tavern, Ralsen immediately caught her eye. That guy was still more or less an unknown quantity, but hey. The deal she'd struck with him was rational, even if it wasn't comfortable for everyone. (Or for her. But she'd cope.)

She didn't even bother asking awkwardly if she could sit with him. (It was weird – all the way through the wild west she'd stayed all polite and nervous, but the further she got from the Soja', the more she felt like being no-nonsense in her dealings. Why was that?) She just set herself down at his table with a drink of her own and a 'sandwhich' that was basically a hunk of bread and a slab of cheese. Fair enough, in these parts.

"Ralsen," she said, as a greeting. She followed his gaze to the effigies. "Friends of yours?" she joked, drily.