Samuel and Marcus, then Mikan, then Hanus
Samuel concealed his own reaction to the decision easily enough. Forgoing logic for an emotional reaction, mentally he shrugged instead. He had to prepare for the journey and he had little business with the mountains before. As such, when the opportunity arose he approached Marcus. "Ranger Marcus? Do you have a moment?" He asked plainly.
Marcus seemed calmed from his earlier spat with Kouri, and he turned to face Samuel. His look remained, however, plainly neutral toward the man he did not know well. "I have time. Speak your mind, nobleman."
"Actually, I was hoping to convince you to speak yours on the subject of the mountains, though I spend a great deal of time travelling I have had little recourse to risk myself needlessly and as you seem to know the region, it seemed to be a practical decision to ask what you can tell me of the mountains, it's threats and dangers." He said without fluffing around, Marcus struck him as someone who had a perpetual flagpole up his arse, a no-nonsense man who'd have no time for flowery words.
Marcus raises an eyebrow, and nods, simply. "To the point. Unexpected." He brings his hands behind his back as he speaks further, with an informative tone. "The mountains, truthfully, have more than orcs and bandits. There are ancient magical traps set during the times of war between ancient Gaul and Renalta, that, without tending, have degraded significantly. It is a hellish deterrent to invasion by the Templar, among others. It limits the paths that most can take. The orcs are divided into tribes that fight amongst their own, though they often raid villages to steal women and monetary gains. The former for pleasure, the latter to purchase goods from smugglers, and to acquire exotic armours and weapons from weapons dealers willing to exchange goods with them. The bandits are a mix of ragtags, we may even be able to work with some of them, if we're lucky." His tone shifts to one of mild distrust as he continues speaking. "I've never personally met the mage in question. All I know of her is that she owns an ostensibly wealthy mansion, and is related to the Mage's Guild in some way, without being a direct member. Templar have tried to take her life in personal vendettas before. They've all ended up dead, their bodies stuffed with straw, and sent back to their families in caskets." He grimaces. "She strikes me as a woman who aids us out of her own amusement or needs, some of which would not benefit us in the long run."
Samuel absorbed the information and rolled it about his mind, kneading the knowledge from one aspect of consideration to another like a find dough. "So my first instinct at casting ourselves on this path is exposing us to inconsiderable danger for a... nebulous and untrustworthy reward and the hopes of shaving some time from our trip." He frowned. "All the while trying to keep the princess safe. Well, at least it isn't the Abyss... but.." He paused and looked at Marcus. "No no, my own doubts are for me. And me alone, and the Princess should she ask me of them, I thank you for your time and will leave you to the remainder of it." He bowed slightly to Marcus.
"You truly have taken a fancy to her, haven't you?" Marcus states simply, as he crosses his arms, looking at Samuel's face: He was measuring for a response.
Samuel cocked his head. "Yes, I believe I have. She is beautiful, as I'm sure most have noticed, a noblewoman which naturally is going to appeal to me," He held his hands out almost apologetically as if to say 'I am a product of my upbringing,' before continuing, "She is intelligent and intriguing, and restored to a world that she no longer knows, has the depthless conviction to proceed down a path the more devout would tote as absolute madness, while still possessing a naivety about the world that is surprisingly refreshing," He paused as if considering his words, "For example, the decision to avoid the forest, predicated on the chance, just the chance, that children would fall sick and die from our passage, where a more determined person such as I imagine, you and I, would have chosen such a path if necessary for the gains to outweigh the possible short-term losses." He frowned. "... strange, I do believe I have strayed from the point." He looked Marcus in the eyes. "So to answer your question in a short and poingant manner, yes."
The Tiefling pauses as Samuel finishes speaking, still looking across his face, still reading his every move. Finally, he speaks. "If you truly care, then know this. One day, she will have to face the reality of leadership. I believe at this point it will take the loss of someone she commands before the weight of her importance will crash upon her mind." He allows his hands to drop from his chest, and moves one of them to pat the pommel of his arming sword. "Do not try to protect her from herself. It may be tempting, but allow her to feel the pain of her actions. It may be the only way for her to learn."
Samuel nodded. "I understand." He smiled politely. Samuel knew all about 'educational' lessons, being caught in bed with a princess so long ago and not losing his head was a very... pointed one... and not one he cared to share.
Moving on from Marcus, Samuel looked around for the small theif looking girl, the one so discomforted by magic, Mikan? He would ask if she knew anything of the mountains.
Samuel would find Mikan standing alone in a corridor, taking deep breaths, her eyes closed as she seemed to be focusing on something within herself. Upon hearing his approach, she would snap out of it, and turn toward him with a wide smirk. "Hello lover boy, finding the princess to be a little out of your reach right now?" Her tone was teasing, playful: There was no malice intended.
"Not at all, you happen to be who I was looking for at this moment." He said with a wry smile. He cocked his head. "Are you ok?" He asked plainly.
She shrugs and kicks at the wall absent mindedly. "I'm fine. Just a lot to take in." Her eyes then dart over to Samuel's eyes, as her smile turns a little sly. "I'm guessing though you aren't here to take in the sights, you've already got your mind on someone a lot higher than me, so... What are you lookin' for?"
"The second oldest thing men like in the universe." He chuckled. "Information, since as I said to Marcus, I don't know the region well, I'll ask you as well you seem street-smart so to speak, what can you tell me about the mountains?" He asked plainly.
"I know going there is a really bad idea." Mikan replies bluntly, as one of her hands drifts to a throwing knife at her belt. She pulls it out and starts flourishing it, twirling it around her hand. "Unless your idea of a good time is being surrounded by rapists and murderers... I don't trust that mage either. She sounds too good to be true. Plus, I don't trust mages I don't know." She looks Samuel over, and coughs. "No offense. Just that we don't know who will sell the princess out. Heck, we already got a lot of people who might do it here. Why should we trust anybody else to be there when we don't even know them, you know? Less we gotta depend on others, the better. N' the mountains... Well, there's some druids there. I maybe got a couple of em' to remember me." She licks her lips, and giggles. "If we find them again, they'd probably help us with the orcs and bandits... Even if they are kinda freaky. And the only thing they're loyal to is nature, we don't have to worry about them ratting us out like everyone else."
As with Marcus, Samuel remained quiet and processed the information Mikan provided. Once more she, like Marcus, reinforced his idea that the Mountains were a mistake in the making, and it'd cost them very likely. "Interesting," he paused, "Much of what you said fits with Marcus' assessment, but he didn't mention these druids, what can you tell me about them?" He said allowing the curiosity he felt to slip into his voice. Though he was certain this was still a mistake, perhaps
they would make better allies than this nebulous mage guild witch people seemed set on finding?
"I guess he never met them." She smiles as she looks toward the ceiling, crossing her arms over her chest and leaning against the wall. "They like to keep to themselves. They often hide among nature in ways we can't see. They like to guide those with noble intentions away from harm, while deceiving those with ignoble intentions into their own doom... For some reason, they saw me travelling alone, and felt the need to help me." Her eyes falter from the ceiling, as she seems to suddenly consider something. Her voice drops to a hush. "... Which means if the King's Rangers there haven't seen them, the druids don't think they're noble. Might be hard to contact them. Plus, their power is kinda limited from what I understand. They only really keep going because the orcs and bandits don't notice them. They might only be able to help us indirectly."
Samuel thought about that. "Sounds like they work through subtle ways, a powerful thing if underestimated." He said, almost to himself, "Perhaps Kouri's need will shine through enough to turn the tide at an important junction, but it sounds like something we'd best not be wagering on." He grinned. "Well thanks for that Mikan, i'm off to find that odd Hanus fellow, he seems like he's got a wealth of Experience to mine on the subject. Unless you have anything you wanted to ask?" He said, it was only fair.
"If you happen to get through to the princess, would you mind a third slipping in for a night?" Mikan giggles as she sheathes her throwing knife, teasing Samuel.
Samuel laughed out loud and dramatically looks around for if Kouri happened to be listening. "Probably not a good idea, there's a reason I spend my time adventuring on the road these days." He winked and walked off chuckling.
Leaving Mikan, Samuel sought out the one called Hanus. He seemed experienced in the region. Perhaps he had insights the others had missed, though so far Mikan and Marcus had reinforced his opinion more than anything on the foolishness of traversing the mountains.
Hanus was in the stables, looking at the other mounts, and seeing how their condition was.
Samuel knew little about the animals in the stables, when it came to animals, he wasn't much of an expert on anything he couldn't summon. But still he realised what Hanus was doing. "Hanus, I'm Samuel, do you have a few minutes?" He asked leaning carefully against a post.
Hanus pauses, then turns and looks at Samuel. The summoner could immediately feel magic imbued within his weapons, though it seemed highly suppressed. Hanus narrows his eyes. "You seek to question me? I have the time."
"As I have little experience with the mountains, I have been seeking out the opinions and thoughts of those who have," Samuel said sensing the magic but not reacting. Though he was curious about the tension in the man, "I am trying to understand better the destination the Princess has chosen for us, it's dangers and what I might expect and prepare for, while Marcus has the military take on things, and Mikan has a street-wise knowledge she hides well, I suspect you have a greater sum of experience in the matter." Samuel thought how to couch his words. "Marcus sees only as a soldier sees, Mikan sees as a thief might see, but you, unless I misjudge you, you actually...
see." Samuel emphasised the words. The man would understand, if not then he truly had misjudged him.
Hanus kneels down beside one of the horses, which seemed unusually calm near him. He pats it on the side and whispers quietly, trying to keep it calm, and emulating what he had seen someone else do with animals. He seemed somewhat uneasy with it. Finally, he spoke, not taking his attention away from the horse. "They are mountains." He states simply as he tightens one of the straps on a saddle bag. "They are deadly for anyone who thinks two dimensionally."
Samuel considered Hanus' response. Was he waxing philosophical? Metaphorical? Was he intentionally playing the bluntest response to test how Samuel himself would respond? All were possible, perhaps even all applied. For a moment Samuel even allowed himself to wonder if he had just badly misjudged and Hanus was just a complete moron? But no, such a thought was beneath him. Instead he laughed as if enjoying the joke. "Indeed, I have travelled some mountains before, I was thinking more of threats unique to these mountains," He paused, "Unless you're suggesting that," He considered the reference to three dimensional, "the Abyss has entrances and exits that we might stumble across, or whose occupants might intentionally come across us in the journey."
Hanus pauses, and glances back at Samuel. There was no amusement in his eyes, he was gravely serious. "There are few points of flat ground. You are constantly rising and falling, around mountain paths, through valleys, over cliffs. Many places to hide, many places to die." He turns away and returns to tightning saddle bags. "It narrows numbers significantly. Our individual abilities and working in groups of two or three will matter. No matter how many orcs there may be, they cannot all strike at once, so long as we note where choke points are." He finishes and stands up, turning to face Samuel. "The path is far wiser than it looks, for a group of our size."
Samuel cocked his head. There was nothing particularly special about what Hanus was saying that wasn't common sense, though in truth it was not so common so perhaps the advice might not be out of place. "What of this mage some are fixated on so badly?" He asked, debating whether to mention the druids that Mikan mentioned, perhaps they really liked their privacy? No he resolved, he'd share that piece with Kouri if Mikan hadn't done so already.
"I may have met her, once." Hanus seems a bit troubled as he gets up, having finished with his task. "If she is who I think she is, we will be fine... Though she may not be the kind of help most would imagine."
Samuel wondered if he should press the issue, but decided against it. "Many thanks Hanus, I will leave you to your own thoughts then." Samuel said turning to leave.
