>>40625174
>>Check with the workers, they've been through a lot.
then
>Check with Tatiana and Artyom. Make sure they are okay.

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Stowing the message tube away for now, you slither off towards where the crew chief is directing men who are casting hooked lines out into the water. "Everyone alright here, James?" You call out.

The man turns to you, "Will be if'n we get the scaffold dredged up. Planks ain't worth squat but the frame itself is. Gonna be a pain finishing things if we can't get up under the bridge itself."

"I meant more the shooting business."

A hiss as the man draws breathe between his teeth, "Contract warned of it, didn't take much account of it, had our strongarm boys actually makin' use of their muscles in a more useful way if'n you catch my drift." He drawls, gesturing over to a group of rather built fellows with rifles, one of whom looks to be a minotaur. "In any case they'll be more keen to keep their rifles handy."

Nodding, you leave the man to his work and head towards the bunkhouse. On the side that was facing the firefight, you see Tai setting the pane of one of the broken windows. If the phoenix man is perturbed by the developments, he does not show it simply humming to himself as he sets the glass. Giving him a nod, you enter into the bunkhouse, only to hear what sounds like a muted argument in Casimiran.

>Listen in on the argument
>Interrupt.

>>40626113
>>Listen in on the argument

>>40626113
>Listen in on the argument
hi chemlab
missed you

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>>40626113
>Listen in on the argument

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[You should be seeing to yourself.] You hear Artyom say, prompting a huff of frustration from Tatiana.

[I already have. The wound was not deep and the binding will hold.]

[Someone of your birthright should be seeing to yourself rather than one such as me.]

[Someone of MY birthright is just as durable as one of yours, and I have luxury of not having been on fire. I will be fine.]

[It is not right.]

Tatiana scoffs, [What is this? Kozak Pride? Szlachta Chivalry? Reverence will not help you here and as far as I'm concerned you are wounded and need care. Burns do not heal like blades do, and your actions have probably worsened that. If you want to make things easier for me, you should be focusing on recovery, not playing with sticks because one of those fire-arm claybreakers put a hole in that charred piece of metal.]

[That charred piece of metal is my ARMOR, do you have any idea how important that is?] Artyom says, voice raised

[Be that as it may, I am the healer here. You do as I say, and let me tend to you, in any case we have a visitor.]

You feel can feel the gaze through the door as the dark skinned centaur and the burned hussar turn to look your way.

>What do?
>>40626447
I've missed running this, internet and sleep schedule are playing hell with me.

>>40626869
Artyom stop being a difficult patient. All of us pull our weight here, Even her. ANd claybreakers may not kill trolls, but I've seen them kill just about anything else, so be wary.

>>40627093
Just to clarify regarding that last bit, he's complaining about the gun putting a hole in his armor that was left off to the side since he's covered in bandages at the moment, neither of them are discounting the lethality, especially since it did put a hole in his armor. Apologies if it was unclear.
If you want I can still factor that into the response.

>>40627582
ok then it's fine.

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[You need to stop being a difficult patient.] You say, entering the room to the pair of gazes. [Everyone pulls their weight here, everyone.]

[But-] Artyom begins

[No, buts. You need to focus on healing. Tatiana will see to it. After that we can go and take care of Krasick or whatever it is you need to do, as of right now though your job is to get better. And that means not making it worse. In any case I should probably impress upon you the lethality of bullets. Sure fire-arms are not great against trolls, but against anything else I've found they are lethal, so getting shot is not something you had ought to do.]

[Nobody got hurt from the fight.] Tatiana says. [I used the chesplate to block the window, and your weapons went clean through both the glass and the plate, the glass cut me, that is what set him off.]

[Oh...]

Artyom settles back into the makeshift bed grumbling to himself. [This place is mad. Weapons raining death from afar, no walls, royalty being forced to work like they are szlachta serfs. Mad.]

You see Tatiana put her wounded hand to her palm.

>Ask them about something?

>>40627864
Ask to see Tatiana's hand. If she's neglecting herself, that's also a problem.

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[Tatiana, a word if you would?] You say, heading back out into the fore room.

It takes her a bit to get out, having to wait for you to slither out so she doesn't trod on you, but upon exit she simply says, [Yes?]

[Let me see your hand.]

She stiffens. [It is fine, Artyom is just a stubborn mule. Comes from his life. Hussars live to serve, and he's had everything he's served destroyed. So he's looking to protect what he can, even at cost of himself.]

[Even still, I know how people can put their own issues aside to help those less fortunate, let me see it.]

She reluctantly removes the wrapping and holds out her hand, inspecting it you can see a rather nasty looking cut on the inside of the palm, it looks recent, but a scab or something is already beginning to form. [It should heal in a few days provided I keep it clean. Fire messes with our ability to heal, hence why Artyom is still the way he is.] She says, putting a new wrap on her hand.

>How's he doing?
>What's this birthright business?
>Anything else I should know?

>>40628445
>>How's he doing?
>What's this birthright business?
>Anything else I should know?

>>40628445
>What's this birthright business?

>>40628445
>How's he doing?
>What's this birthright business?

>>40628445
>Birthright business
then
>Anything else?
Then
>How's he doing?

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[What's this business with the birthright you were talking about.] You ask her causing her to shuffle a bit awkwardly.

[It is nothing. Just tired old Szlachta ideals on what you should or should not.]

[What do you mean?]

[My darker skin, my fair hair. It is a sign that I am either important, or related to someone who is. The szlachta historically tread lightly around that. Even one of Kozak stock like Artyom has bought into it. Though Purobka is so far from the capitol, I cannot blame them for being antiquated.]

[And being important means...]

[You do not do anything. Just sit around and unaccountably give orders. Father did not take kindly to that, so he had us pick interests. Practical skills. I had a knack for healing. He sent me to learn from my uncle, his brother by marriage. All my siblings learned something useful. Still, Szlachta have their traditions, and violations are seen as a challenge.]

[Huh. And Artyom, how is he doing?]

[Outside of scarring, which will somewhat fade sometime in the future, he seems perfectly healthy now. Either the fire was superficial, or he's got an unheard of resistance to it. Even still it is better to be safe.]

You're interrupted by a knock on the now fixed window as Tai tilts his head towards the entrance to the ranch. At least 4 riders are being accosted by Liama and McCain.

>Stay and ask Tatiana more questions.
>Go see who it is.
>Other?

>>40629633
>See who it is

>>40629633
>Go see who it is

>>40629633
>>Go see who it is

>>40629633
>Go see who it is.

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Satisfied for now, you bid Tatiana farewell and head outside to see who the new arrivals are. You are a little distressed not to see the familiar Black/Silver uniform scheme of hte nitor, but instead an entirely unfamiliar one. McCain and Liama have the four men held at bay.

"I take it your the owner of this... establishment." The leader of the group, judging by the insignia a Lieutenant of some sort, says surveying the grounds.

"That I am, Sasha Masterson, and who might you be?"

"UFK Reserve." The apparently nameless officer says, "We'd heard about an attack."

"Its been taken care of, bodies are in the shed on ice. Waiting on the nitor to get here to look them over. See if they can figure anything out."

"Are they 'nixs?"

"Pardon?"

He rolls his eyes to his compatriots, though you figure the word cronies would not be far remiss. "Phoenix Empire."

"Well, by appearance, we kinda guessed."

"Where they at?"

"Rear of the barn, in the shade near the ice under the lean-to."

At a nod two of the men dismount and start walking past only to be stopped by McCain

"Where do you think you're going." he rumbles.

"Disposal and inventory. Need to keep tally on how many of these 'nix goons put under. Figure there can't be many left out of one shipload. How many where there?

"Three ran off into the woods, 8 dead."

Officer Nameless lets out a low whistle, "Alright, we'll be taking them with us, along with their belongings."

>Let them take the everything.
>Let them take the dead, don't mention the tube.
>Don't let them take anything.

>>40630398
>Don't let him take anything if there is ANY doubt that he is who he says he is.

>Let them take only the bodies if he is who he says he is.

>>40630398
>Don't let them take anything.
All due 'respect', we're waiting for the Nitor to arrive.

Assuming they're legit, we have the law on our side. Assuming otherwise, we have numbers.

>>40630398
> Don't let them take anything
"Not that I don't trust you, but I don't trust you. You will come back with a letter of introduction from Keel before you will leave with anything."

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"Not that I don't trust you, but I don't trust you. You will come back with a letter of introduction from Keel before you will leave with anything."

You're almost impressed. There isn't even so much as a reaction. "Miss, you are aware that in times of war bureaucracy sometimes needs to take a back seat to getting the job done. Me and my boys are fighting to keep you safe, you could at the very least try and work with us. Not only that, but attempts to obstruct us in getting our job done could mean seizure of property under treason laws?"

You balk at that, is this fool actually threatening treason charges over corpses. Liama and McCain react almost mechanically.

"We as the citizenry just fought off the forces of an ostentatiously hostile enemy power less than a few hours ago dressed in nondescript clothes. We have good reason to believe that the enemy is using infiltration tactics to try and achieve their goals." McCain starts.

Liama continues, "As such, under articles ten, twelve, and thirty two of the rules of engagement, without proper accreditation we are fully within our right to refuse any order from an unknown and unaccountable officer from a known source. As such any and all threats of legal repercussions can be considered coercion from a hostile power."

"Long story short Lieutenant. You're full of hot air." McCain finishes still standing between the men and the back of the barn.

Recovering, you note that officer nameless hasn't reacted, at least visibly. Certain muscles in his face set however, and he can't be pleased with this result.

"Just as you say." He responds. "We'll be back." His men remount, and you watch as the group ride off back towards town.

>What do?

>>40631174
See if Tai knows anything about the tube.

>>40631174
Watch them.

Check with Tai about the tube get Harpy girl to tail them, discretely.

>>40631174
>Once they're out of earshot
"Liama, have you ever seen their uniforms before? Also, if either of you see them again, please come and get me."
>>40631219
>Then this

>>40631174
I also like having Marie tail them as well.
>>40631248

>>40631248
>>40631275
Marie went off to South Fork to contact the nitor already. She's unavailable at the moment unfortunately.

>>40631313
We'll ask her if she saw them on the way back once she gets here then.

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"Liama, have you ever seen their uniforms before?"

"They're prolly UFK reserve alright." McCain says, "Just a few 'enterprising' soldiers out to make a buck or two any way they can."

"Sad to say, but McCain's got the right of it. Reserve army isn't held to nitor's standards. Sometimes I think its just about anyone who can pick up a gun but doesn't want to be held accountable goes into one of the reserves. Decent wage, not much work at peacetime, and the prestige of being our nations official army, as opposed to the nitor." Liama responds.

"Huh, well in any case, if either of you see them again, please come and get me."

Leaving the two ex-nitor to stew in what is obviously a sore subject for them, you go ahead for the longshot. If those reserve goons return with legitimate documentation you want to at least have tried to solved the mystery before them. Heading back to the bunkhouse, you're surprised to find Tai already completed the repairs on the windows. He's got a little sign with 'don't touch' penned on it, but that's probably more for the centaur duo than anything else. Checking out his usual haunts, you find him in his herb garden, trowel in hand wearing what looks to be a butcher's apron re-purposed for gardening.

"Got a minute Tai, something I want you to look at."

"Sure thing Miss Sasha what is it?" He responds, doing a double take when you produce the tube. "Where'd you find one of these?"

"Our attackers had one on them."

"Really?"

"Yes really, why?"

"I recognize that symbol. My father, he got a letter sealed like that when we got on the boat to come here."

"You never mentioned your father."

"He didn't survive the trip." He responds

"I'm sorry," You say quickly, "How'd he die."

He taps the seal. "The kingfisher got him."

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>>40632283
Good enough spot as any to call it for the night. Internet is finally dying out in this series of storms, otherwise it would have been posted sooner. As always thanks for reading.

>>40632283
The Kingfisher?
(I forget if we know anything about HIM yet.)

>>40632334
>Kingfisher
Aw shieeet
Thanks for running Canid!

>>40632334
Okay, 'night.
Next time, just remember to have us question who the Kingfisher is.
(And it would be lovely if you could also have Liama come up right as we ask about him. You can say she came over because she had forgotten about something she wanted to ask us/say to us.)