Just a bump in the road

[Aidan Lowell]

Lacuna was nice, but it was too close to the border. It was nostalgic, but not quite what he remembered. No, this was Bern. Land of mountains, wyverns, and his home. If he was by his self, and a lot more whimsical, and drunk or something, he'd probably spread his arms and point his face to the sun. It was a bit chilly in the air, especially with the nice downpour they had the night before, but it was a good chilly. He's spent more then enough time in the temperate Lycia, a land that smelt like horses and manure.

No, that's no fun. Aidan preferred this chilly land, call it nostalgia, but he couldn't really call any place home but this land. He's not a good vagrant it seemed. Still, it was a nice feeling.

"We should almost be in the next town, Exalt I think." He called over his shoulder to see the group. Somehow Aidan was leading them. It was... odd. Aidan's never led anyone, but Aevian wasn't in the mood it seems so it was up to him. There was his old trio, along with a new duo of people. Three big guys who each wielded the triangle of weapons, and two smaller girls who could probably kick their butts.

It was almost a bit funny, but regardless that wasn't the point here. Aidan didn't talk to the two much, in fact they stayed mostly to themselves the whole trip, though he was happy they came along for the oddest reason. A reason he couldn't quite pin, but relieved him all the same. Maybe this next town will be different and they wouldn't be stopped by some stupid problem?

Speaking of stupid problems...

"Halt!" An armored man stopped them. He was shorter then any of the men there, but he still asserted his self in a somewhat intimidating way. He held a lance in hand, and a nasty look in his eye as he looked Aidan up and down. His eyes lingered a second on his scar before continuing. "This town is under Ilian occupation. State your business."

Ilia... "Just traveling through." Aidan simply stated with a small shrug.

"Fine. But if you start any trouble, you will be executed. No exceptions." He spoke with sharp, harsh eyes. They were out of the more free part of Bern, that was for sure. It'd only grow worse the further in they dive... Especially with this war going on. Both the Bernese public and the Ilian soldiers had short tempers... They should be on their best behaviors. The soldier and his men moved aside from the gate to the town, opening the way for the group to make their way in.


"Hrm... isn't that the man that guy warned us about?" A bit aways one soldier spoke to another.

"Yeah, the scar clinches it. We'll have to keep a close eye on him."

[Saturos Prox]

Saturos followed behind Aidan, his hands behind his head. He gave one of the soldiers a quick wave before signaling for Syana to keep up. Creeping up next to the grizzled soldier, Saturos leaned in for a whisper.

"I don't like the looks of the soldiers," he said quietly. "They're giving us creepy looks. I don't think we're all that welcome here." The myrmidon gave a quick glance around. The town seemed a little depressed, if towns even had the ability to do so. It was probably the sight of Ilian soldiers walking around combined with the dreary mood of the populous. Saturos didn't even think Ilia had soldiers. "I thought they were all mercenaries."

Forgetting that his female companion was just an able of a fighter as he was, the Etrurian swordsman backed off from the soldier leading their group and placed a hand on Syana's shoulder.
"Stay close to me," he said, a slight note of concern in his voice.

[Syana Flamberge]

Syana shrugged Saturos' hand off her shoulder. "I can watch out for myself just find, thanks." Her tone of voice was a little colder than normal. She wouldn't admit it, at least not yet, but something Saturos had said last night had hit a nerve with her and she wasn't too happy right now. Plus, his treating of her like someone who couldn't fight wasn't helping. If anything, it made her more annoyed.

[Aidan Lowell]

"Yeah, I saw that too." He quietly replied, not loud enough for anyone but Saturos to hear easily. "I was hoping on spending the night here, but I'd rather be out as soon as we resupply." Another night under the stars wouldn't kill anyone, least of all him. It'll be more comfortable then thinking he was going to get murdered in his sleep.

He didn't want to get involved in Saturos and Syana's little squabble so he decided it would be best to stay quiet. Good thing too, he's had a whole life of experience in staying quiet and ignoring things. The faster they were done with this town the better.

[Saturos Prox]

Saturos shrugged back away from Syana, cringing as he did.
"Yeesh, what's up with her?" he thought to himself, turning back to Aidan. Maybe he had said something offensive last night, but he couldn't recall anything in particular, and he remembered most of the night. The myrmidon new better to poke at a touchy woman, though, and decided that he would leave her alone for the time being.

"Agreed, mon frere," muttered Saturos under his breath to his armored companion. "I'd rather have a stone in my back than a sword in my belly."

[Lyar]

Lyar had stayed silent the whole travel, and was even more so quiet as they stepped into this new town. Out of everyone in the group, he garnered the most suspicion...but then again, when didn't the big man attract attention! It was practically in his job description, and hefting his axe on his shoulder probably wasn't helping the situation too much. Looking down to his trio of companions, they seemed to also be in a sour mood...especially the tiniest of them: that Red Haired girl who hadn't really spoken to him much. As they walked, he leaned to his side and began whispering to the only person in the group he was still a stranger to:

"...are you alright ma'am? Did you get sick in the rain earlier?" he looked up for a moment before looking back down, as to not make contact with the hostile eyes that occasionally fell upon him...why did they stop here anyways?

[Syana Flamberge]

Syana gave her head a shake at Lyar's question. "No, I'm not sick." She threw another look over to Saturos. "Just people saying things without thinking is all... Don't worry yourself about it." She gave him a little smile before she shook her head again, muttering quietly to herself. If the big guy listened closely, he'd catch words like "drunk," "stupid," and "eyes." Every once and a while she threw another look at Saturos. She was not a happy merc.

[Aidan Lowell]

It was really a shame Aevian decided to stay behind on their trip, she missed all this being persecuted by Ilian soldiers, she would of loved that. She also would of loved to bury her hatchet with them, in their backs of course. A pity, but oh well. She wanted to go her own way, not that he could blame her. It felt like they were stuck in Lacuna for months on end. So, now with their slightly smaller group, they were traveling to Bern, Bern. Hopefully as distractionless as possible.

Speaking of distractions...

"Hey... This town is... odd." Well that was an understatement. Still, that wasn't exactly what he meant. It was so sleepy, so depressed... so abandoned. There was no one in the streets but the soldiers. It was so different from the crowded streets of Lacuna, where people exploding out of every alleyway, but here... not a soul not clad in armor. They had said the town was under Ilian occupation, but they didn't say anything about martial law. Was this the state Bern was in? Just how much has Aidan missed?

The less time they spend here the better, hopefully not every town is like this. Those sideways glances and stares were starting to become unsettling now. Not that they didn't bother him before, but they only intensified the longer they waited. "Come on, lets hurry." He wanted to stop and resupply as well, but he just knew if he bothered to take the time, they'd find trouble waiting for them.

[Lyar]

"Ok...." he paused and looked back forward, but every now and then he'd hear her mumbling words that he thought were addressed to him...and well, this wasn't helping his mood. Eyes now downcast, he sort of twiddled his thumbs around nervously before looking back to Aidan," We'll lets go grab the supplies and leave, I'm not liking this one bit...These people are almost as cold as the place they come from." That later part was mumbled even lower, audible to the others and only the others...last thing he needed was to send a bunch of these snow people into a frenzy.

[Saturos Prox]

Saturos flinched slightly. He wasn't sure, but he felt that if he turned around, Syana would be shooting him some nasty looks. He could practically feel the eye daggers in the back of his neck. What had he done to garner such fury?

Trying to ignore the ominous feeling, he went back to conversation with Lyar and Aidan.
"It seems like the only law Ilia knows about is martial law," muttered the swordsman under his breath. "It makes sense, though, what with them being a race of mercenaries raised on the unforgiving tundra of the northern lands. It's kill or be killed up there."

[Aidan Lowell]

"I don't think we should even stop to resupply. I have a bad feeling about...this..." He began but instantly regret it. Of course something bad was gonna happen, he put it up in the air. It was like saying something can't get worse. Crap! Now he's thought that too! This isn't something that'll happen in a while, no no no, the universe is a cruel and swift mistress.

"Are you Aidan Lowell?" There it was. Dammit.

It was a soldier, one of the many in the town it seemed. She held a sword, raised, not one looking for peace it seemed. Did... Did Aidan do anything? He felt like it would be an idiot move to say yes he was Aidan, but people tend to not ask that question unless they're already sure that, yeah, you are. He noticed the soldiers even more now, they seemed to multiply. This wasn't a good sign.

"Why do you ask?" Aidan cocked up a single eyebrow and looked down with a scowl.

The answer he received had two parts. The first was: "I didn't ask for you to talk. I asked if you were Aidan Lowell." The second part was a sword thrust threateningly in his face.

"...Yes. Yes I am, now may I know why you ask." He pulled his head back as the blade was mere inches from giving him a forced shave.

"I knew it. You are under arrest Aidan Lowell." She moved her hand beckoning a few more soldiers.

"For what?!" What on earth could he have done!?

"For conspiracy to inspire rebellion against Illian occupation." She smugly grin up at the tall armored man.

"What do you mean? I just arrived in Bern a few days ago!" He had a sinking feeling he knew though.

"The entire Lowell family has been found connected to the recent rebellions against Ilia." Just as he thought. Iris. "You are to be executed in the middle of Bern, for all to see. To show the rebels what happens to those who disturb the peace in Bern!" Just a few minutes and already he was being told to die. Well... it looks like things were a bit more exciting then he had wanted. The woman sheathed her blade. "You are to come with us." One, two, three... there was about seven soldiers.

"You guys might want to get out of here." He told his companions, arching his head back as a soldier with a pair of chain handcuffs got closer. "Don't wanna be accomplices."

"I... I'm sorry." Aidan swiftly yanked his lance off of his back, and held it threateningly. "But I'm NOT going." Either he would die here amongst these soldiers, or he would die later amongst a crowd. If he had to die, why not here? Atleast he can create a distraction to let the others get away.

"I told you when you entered." One of the lance wielding men said. "If you disturb the peace, it's execution."

[Lyar]

The giant stood silent the entire time as the soldiers circles and began their arrest of Aidan. The knight wanted them to back off, and by this the narrator means Saturos, Syana, and Lyar...but he should have known how Lyar was: When a bond was forged, little else mattered. he had his hand on the handle of the axe given to him by Aevian ( OOC: Yes this was permitted by Aevian as Aevian is no longer a PC and the weapon would have gone to waste.) and walked back to his friend...

Meanwhile, an Ilian soldier felt a large, heavy hand fall on his shoulder. Turning around the spearmen looked to, then up...then a little bit higher to the large man, who, oddly enough, had a smile on his face," Did you ever hear the story about the giant who lived in a castle in the clouds? He'd kidnap people, about a village at a time, climb up a giant beanstalk...and cook them all for supper?" his grip intensified, and the man dropped the spear as he tried to pry the arm off.

Lyar obliged him, letting go, before launching a canned ham sized fist into his Adam's Apple, sending the man crumbling like a sack of bricks," If you all don't let my friend here...well, let's just say I'm quite hungry and not in the mood for you." with this, he swung his new weapon from his back and in a battle position,

[Syana Flamberge]

Syana gave her neck a little crack and pulled out her sword. She had a lot of pent up energy right now and this would really help that out. Plus, it would help Saturos out too. By getting all her rage out this way, she'd be fine with him and be able to talk it out. Plus, she'd been wanting to try out some fear tactics. So, win-win-win.

The red-headed mercenary put on a wicked grin as she addressed the nearest of the soldiers. "So. You think you know something about being a soldier. A fighter. Well, let me tell you, princess, you know nothing what it's like to be a true Ilian merc." She looked at her blade in an almost endearing way, the twisted smile still on her face. "To do whatever it takes to get a job done, to keep food in your stomach." She tilted her head as she looked back to the soldier. "I'm sure you've heard stories about dangerous mercs from up back home, everyone there knows them. People so deadly the stories can't possibly be true. Well, I hate to break it to you, but they are true. And your luck just ran out, kid, cause you've just gone and pissed off the most dangerous of them all." As she said this last part, she ran her tongue up her sword, that demented smile still on her face. Oh, she was having fun with this. And the fun was only just beginning.

[Saturos Prox]

Saturos kept his sword sheathed, crossing his arms and shaking his head. What brutes his companions were. Really? Getting in a fight with soldiers? The myrmidon didn't care how mean these soldiers were, he wasn't really in the mood to become an outlaw.

He walked up to the soldiers, his hands out in front of him.
"Now, now, can't we talk this out? I see no reason why blood has to be spilled," he said nonchalantly. "Are you sure there's no way we...?"

And that was when Lyar punched one of the soldiers. Good grief. Saturos palmed his face in frustration. The man was as oafish as he looked. Why was he never able to travel with anyone with any class? With a sigh, the myrmidon began to draw his sword from its sheath sashed to his lower back. Twirling his sword, Saturos shrugged.
"I have all of this wonderful sword talent, and all it ever gets used for is fighting," he said aloud, completely seriously. The swordsman never really seemed to realize how ironic that sounded. "So much fighting. I'll warn you guys, though, I'm good."

[Lyar]

As the soldiers backed up to get into a fighting formation, Syana had stepped forward and gave her little speech. This caused Lyar to accompany her weird tongue thing with a loud booming laugh, before he gave her a pat on her tiny head. He wasn't really interested in Saturos and his casual way of jumping into the fight, as he gave a spin of his own with his axe: not elegant like Saturos, but a simple spin that just screamed that the guy wielding it could easily land a job as the royal executioner of some lord or king, before stopping the weapon with his free hand.

Then a thought came to him, and he took his other axe, albeit lighter, and readied it in his other hand: He'd often seen his friends on the ship fight with two axes, but why hadn't he? When they used two axes, he would always use one large one...may as well experiment on these people.