DnD-style roleplay!

[Nail Strafer]

Geoffrey was surprised by Chadin's outburst. He stood there silent for a bit, but something was deeply bugging him.

"I hate to press the point after what you said, but I have a side interest in history, in addition to medicine. I think Augustine mentioned that Provenan was one of the oldest beast settlements, if not THE oldest. This town looks like its only a few hundred years old."

He pointed towards the few buildings he could see, plus the manor house on the hill.

"I was a doctor in the army when I was younger, and I accompanied soldiers on crusades to the south. In the deserts, I saw cities that had been inhabited by humans for literally thousands of years. To me, that just suggests that beast folk may have come after humans. I mean no offense by it. I am merely curious. If this really is the first proper beast folk town, then your kind has only recently advanced in civilization thousands of times faster than humans ever managed it. That's impressive in a whole other way, if you think about it."

---

Meanwhile, Augustine reached the house just as the sun started to peek over the hills on the horizon. A large wall surrounded the whole compound, but the path did stop at a large oaken doorway. A small bell hung off to one side. Augustine quickly started to ring it, and hoped he wouldn't be too much of a bother by calling so early. A dog in light armor appeared on a rampart above the gate. He let out a big yawn, and also had an annoyed look on his face. Augustine seemed to have woken him from a nap.

"Why you callin' at the Lanigiro Manor this early, sir?"

"I've been escorting a human doctor named Geoffrey to this town. Is this where his patient is?"

Much to Augustine's relief, the canine's eyes immediately lit up when he heard the name.

"Why yes it is!" The dog quickly started glancing around to find the human, but he looked back disappointed at Augustine. "Where is he?"

"No. I left him on the edge of town with a friend, in case it's a problem having a human here."

The dog nodded in understanding.

"It probably would be a problem. I'll round up some other guards and we'll escort him back here. Just wait for me."

[Chadin]

Chadin didn't turn to make eye contact with Geoffrey as he spoke. Partly out of stubborn pride, but partly because he didn't want Geoffrey to see that he had no answers to give. He was a grown adult with a fully grown rack of antlers, but not ancient. He knew that humans and Beast-folk only had a few centuries of exposure to one another. He always assumed it was because the humans ever expanding territory finally bumped into their own. Or maybe his kind simply never bothered with 'human' traits like permanent homes and clothing were simply a matter of course with their normally hunter-gatherer nomadic lifestyles.

But what Geoffrey said challenged his preconceptions. He didn't know which was more important. Sticking to his current understanding of the world, or questioning things that in all honesty, was of little to no consequence to him.

[Nail Strafer]

Geoffrey stood uncomfortably as he watched Chadin stare off into the distance. He felt guilty about pushing the issue, even though Chadin didn't seem willing to discuss it. It was probably the first time he'd done something to offend one of his guides. Fortunately though, the pair would see something to break up the awkward moment.

Some people with torches could be seen walking up the pathway. As they got closer, they'd see four beast folk approaching. Most of them wore brand new plate armor over chain mail. While Geoffrey might have difficulty making out faces in the low light, Chadin would most likely see Nail's face out in front leading the party.

He started to turn his head, as he looked back and forth for his two traveling companions.

"Chadin? Geoffrey? You there?"

[Chadin]

Chadin's ears perked up when his eyes caught sight of the approaching torches. His right hand grasped an arrow and knocked an arrow to his bow string, just in case. He didn't raise his bow, but he stood ready to draw and fire it if the need should arise.

Luckily, that need did not come as he made out Nail walking at the head of the group of well armoured, and presumably well armed, group of soldiers. That sight made his hackles rise. It seemed a tad excessive just to escort one human doctor into a manor. Still, best to see where this might lead before jumping to conclusions. Who knows, maybe the thieves were more truthful about Provenan's anti-human sentiments after all.

"Here." Chadin called out loudly enough to be heard, but not allow his voice to carry far. After all, why draw even more attention to yourself when your welcoming party is wearing plate mail?

[Nail Strafer]

The four beast folk in armor turned to look at Geoffrey and Chadin, upon hearing the deer's voice. However, their focus promptly turned towards the human doctor. Geoffrey felt a little chill down his back, as the hard faces illuminated by torchlight looked him up and down. Augustine however appeared to realize how intimidating it might be to Geoffrey, and he quickly stepped forward to offer a reassuring smile.

"I know it looks scary, Geoffrey, but these guards are here to protect you. They're not here to hurt you."

A badger stepped forward, as he offered his hand for a handshake.

"It's good that you finally got here sir. We just don't want anyone making trouble. Augustine told us about the trouble you had with those bandits. You should be honored to be here. You're the first human to see this town."

[Chadin]

"Forgive the cynisism, but after last night, it will be an honour to simply be deal with civilized folk." Chadin replied as he unknocked his arrow and allowed himself to relax a little. He still didn't want to let his guard down completely though. Nothing ever comes without some complications.

[Nail Strafer]

"Can't get more civilized than here, sir," the badger smiled at Chadin, reassuring him. "Plenty of inns for you to stay at, and I'm sure they'll be a lot friendlier than the places you've been before if they were all run by humans."

Meanwhile Geoffrey had yet to shake the badger's hand. Augustine waited off to side, holding his breath. He worried that Geoffrey not shaking the man's hand might be seen as an insult. To his relief though, the badger simply turned his smile to the human.

"I understand how you feel about our kind right now, with what Augustine said. But not all beast folk are like that. You can trust us. Our master trusts you with his life. That's good enough for us."

Augustine sighed with relief, letting himself lean forward a bit as the tension faded away. This badger seemed to be very patient and understanding, which Augustine really appreciated. In any case, a hare stepped forward, looking a little more hard-faced under the light. He cast a glare at the badger, before looking back at Geoffrey.

"This is all well and good, but we must make haste. The master needs your help, Geoffrey. Are you all ready to go?"

Geoffrey stared at the hare, his face slightly taut in what looked like deep thought. Then he looked at the city in the valley below them, before looking back at both Augustine and Chadin.

"Okay, I think I'm ready to go then."

"Me too," Augustine said, moving to step closer to Geoffrey as to reassure him.

"Then let's get on with it. The master's in bad shape right now and needs care right away."

The guards started to walk back down the path. They formed a box around Geoffrey, keeping anyone from getting close to him.

Augustine moved to join him, but the hare raised up his hand to keep him from getting closer. Surprised by the maneuver, the fox's eyes narrowed harshly. "Hey! What are you doing that for?"

[Chadin]

"Are we not invited then?" Chadin asked with an upraised eyebrow. Curious they would stop them now. Maybe this master of theirs gave orders for Geoffrey and Geoffrey alone?

[Nail Strafer]

"Into the mansion grounds, no." The hare shook his head sternly. "You've done your job. You can leave now."

Nail's eyes narrowed, as his fists clenched slightly. They'd traveled so far, and now they'd been shoved aside the instant they weren't needed. It felt - pardon the word - dehumanizing. Plus, he would absolutely hate to at least not get a glimpse at the person who'd ordered this journey in the first place.

"But I'll need an escort back to where I came from!" Geoffrey protested, suddenly looking frightened as he looked around at the guards.

The hare rolled his eyes and sighed, clearly getting tired of this conversation already.

"In that case, you two can stay at an inn while Geoffrey administers his treatment. We'll return him to you once he's done. Sound all right?"

"Well..." Nail sighed, as he rubbed his hands. He chose his words carefully and tried not to display his annoyance, so as not to upset the guards. "Not really. Just a little disappointing that we won't get to see the place that we've traveled so far to bring Geoffrey to."

[Chadin]

Chadin felt annoyed as well that he was being cut out like this. But, so far as he was concerned, what went on inside the manor was beyond his ability to influence anyway and therefore not his concern. "So long as our client is returned safely to us, than so be it." Chadin nodded to the guard.