DnD-style roleplay!

[Nail Strafer]

The badger looked between the two of them, noting their disappointment. He looked off to the side, as if thinking about something, before he turned back again.

"Tell you what. I'll ask the master of the manor if it's OK for us to break protocol this one time." He gave them both an encouraging smile. "He might give you an extra reward on top of Geoffrey's payment, since he really needed a doctor. Just follow us, all right?"

Nail felt the relief wash over him, as he smiled again. Sure, it wasn't a "yes" just yet, but he felt a lot better all the same. He didn't know why but seeing the secretive manor felt very important to him, even though it honestly shouldn't be.

[Time skip to the manor? By the way, by this point, I'd say we're entering the final part of the RP. Maybe the last 1/3 or 1/4.]

[Chadin]

"We would be deeply grateful to you. At the very least, would go some way to sating out curiosity." Nodded his head in thanks as he followed along behind.

[Nail Strafer]

The soldiers led Geoffrey, Chadin, and Augustine down a longer path that circled Provenan, instead of going directly through the town like Augustine had done.

"We don't want to arouse the curiosity of the locals too much," the badger explained, "since we've got a human with us and all."

Geoffrey sighed, as he looked off to the side. While difficult to make out under the tall trees, the houses twinkled from lights coming on in the windows. Dark figures walked amongst the buildings as people started to wake up and get around to their business.

"Shame, I would have liked to walk down the streets."

"I know. But I don't know how the people would react. Humans just aren't supposed to be here."

Geoffrey took one more look at the town, before returning his sight to Augustine and Chadin briefly.

"Is this what it feels like to be a beast folk in human towns?"

Augustine blinked a few times, surprised by the question.

"Yes, sorry to say but yes it is. Beast folk need to keep a low profile in human towns, just like we're doing now with you."

While Augustine thought his reply was rather blunt, he felt like getting some things off his chest with his response like that. It was rare to see a human going through things that beast folk like himself went through all the time. At least they weren't going to get attacked by roving bandits like this.

[Yeah, I said we'd skip to the manor, but it didn't feel right not writing this out. For some reason I feel like I'm really struggling to write this better.]

[Chadin]

"Sad but true, Geoffrey. I've run across a few towns where the moment you enter town, the people there drive you off as sure as you were a bandit or wild beast. Some of my... less savory clients tried to carry skip out on my payment by neglecting to inform me of a town's outlook towards beast folk. I learned very quickly to demand payment the moment we were in sight of the village, rather than upon actually reaching it." Chadin added in, his voice laced with a sombre bitterness that could only come from experience.

[Nail Strafer]

Before long, they reached the manor. Moss-covered stone walls surrounded the entire compound, standing over three meters tall. Even so, you could still see the top floor and roof of the manor above the barrier. It was almost big enough to be not just a manor but maybe even a castle. The troop of guards walked up to the front gate with Geoffrey in their midst. The guard on duty at the rampart saw them coming from a ways off due to their torches, and quickly opened the wooden gate as they got close by.

Geoffrey suddenly stopped, before crossing the threshold. The badger behind him nearly ran into him. Sighing and shaking his head, he walked to stand behind and next to Geoffrey, almost talking straight into the human's ear.

"What's wrong? We need to get you inside."

Geoffrey's eyes however appeared to be looking at something very far away. He turned his gaze away from the gate, and then looked off into the dark forest surrounding the estate. Out of curiosity, Augustine looked in the same direction as the human. But even with his natural night vision, the fox didn't see a thing in the inky darkness except for the vague silhouettes of tree trunks.

Wait...do I see a man, behind that tree?

He looked again, but now he couldn't see it. Was it just his imagination?

Meanwhile, the badger continued to badger Geoffrey.

"Look, let's just go on in."

He started to push Geoffrey in through the gate. At the beast folk's touch, Geoffrey blinked a few times, looking as if he'd just woken up from sleep or something. He stared around at everyone confusedly, although he quickly regained his composure. Offering a meek smile, he offered a small "sorry" and went through the portal.

Augustine followed in after them, as he continued to look back at where he thought he'd seen that man. But again, nothing was there. Perhaps it was just a trick of the light or something.

[Chadin]

That bad feeling was starting to rise up again as Chadin saw skittish Geoffrey became at the threshold to the compound. A little nervousness around armed guards was perfectly understandable. But the way Geoffrey was acting, you'd think he was being forced to enter a haunted house on a dare. Something didn't had up. But, Chadin kept his thoughts to himself for now. Afterall, Geoffrey already had a very trying night.

[Nail Strafer]

Even though they were now inside the compound, the group still had a bit of a walk to the manor proper. Various gardens lay along the stone pathway leading up to the mansion, with the ones further away for growing food and the others closer to the house for decoration. Even with the early morning hour, servants still worked the gardens. They all looked up curiously at the human being escorted by the guards, but kept their heads down so as not to be too intrusive. Augustine felt thankful that they were all polite enough to do that. Geoffrey continued to glance around a lot and kept his legs stiff and ready for running, as if he were a cornered prey animal.

A loud groaning sound interrupted his thoughts. Augustine glanced upwards, and saw the large wooden front doors opening up. A beaver, dressed in a richly crimson-colored tunic, rushed through the front door and down the path to meet them. Since his clothes were spotless, Augustine figured he was one of the Lanigiros he'd heard so much about. Curious that he was a beaver, though. In any case, he watched with rapt attention since this was the first look he was getting at the people who hired Geoffrey.

"You!" he pointed at the human, talking as if Geoffrey were another servant. "Are you the doctor?"

Geoffrey frowned briefly at the gesture. Augustine couldn't blame him. In any case, Geoffrey quickly replaced the frown with a smile.

"Yes, I am. Where's Mr. Eric Lanigiro?"

The beaver spun around, pointing at a large window on the third floor above the manor's front door. A small fire illuminated the window in an orange glow, although not much could be seen but the outline of the fireplace's ornate mantlepiece in the light.

"You should get up there right now. Guards, lead him up there."

The four guards broke out into a jog, with Geoffrey hurrying to keep up with them. The beaver watched them go for a moment, before he turned around to look at Augustine and Chadin. He blinked a couple times, as he unconsciously took a step back from seeing the strangers. Apparently, he hadn't noticed them walking behind the armed guards at first.

"Who are you two?" He glanced between the two of them, mouth flat and eyes narrowed.

Even though this beaver stood a little smaller than both of them, Augustine felt he wasn't to be trifled with. He was probably the son of Mr. Lanigiro or something. The hybrid put on a smile that he didn't feel inside. For some reason, he felt like having Chadin speak first this time. Maybe it's because Augustine occasionally had the bad habit of flubbing his speech in the presence of someone in a higher position than him.

[Chadin]

Chadin glanced all around, taking in what he could of the impressive looking gardens in the early-morning gloom. Chadin had never been much for gardening, but even he could appreciate a splendid set up such as this.

Chadin dipped his head and made a small bow out of respect before answering. "We are the wilderness guides for the good doctor. My name is Chadin, and my associate is Augustine."

[Nail Strafer]

Augustine bowed politely as well, following Chadin's lead. For a couple seconds, the beaver silently looked back and forth at the two of them, like he didn't know what to do. Augustine wasn't sure what this meant, but maintained the same bland smile as before. The beaver cleared his throat, preparing to speak.

"Well, thank you for bringing him here. Go find an inn. We'll call you when the doctor's ready to leave."

And with that he turned around and started walking away. As soon as the beaver turned around, the smile promptly vanished from Augustine's face. He narrowed his eyes sharply, looking at Chadin for a second before walking to follow after the beaver. Augustine figured he didn't have anything to lose by doing this. After all, it was Geoffrey paying them, not the Lanigiros.

"Excuse me, but one of your guardsmen said he would ask the master of the house if we could stay for a bit. Would that be all right? We have traveled a long way, and even got attacked by bandits last night."

The beaver whirled around, his eyes popping wide open as he paused in mid stride. You'd think Augustine had just shot an arrow at him.

"What?! Which guard was it?"

He glared at the two travelers, clenching his fists together. Augustine tried to keep his face neutral, but couldn't help but let his jaw hang open a bit. It sounded like they were still getting brushed aside and now someone else was going to get punished too. With that realization, Augustine sure didn't feel like answering.

[Chadin]

"How should we know? They all look alike." Chadin replied tersely. It wasn't entirely a lie either. He knew the guard had been a badger. But given this beaver's hoity-toity attitude, Chadin wasn't feeling very cooperative. Least of all since that guard had at least been considerate.

"Why should it matter anyway? Your master not one for hospitality? Chadin pressed further, intent on badgering the beaver into belying his belittling bluster.