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>>38611813
This week has been one of self improvement, you note, be it anxiety from having a celebrity of sorts coming. Prompting you to even badger Veles for more training in your own natural talents, not wanting to be found lacking on that front, only for him to explain that outside of instinct and practice of what you already know, there's not much more that he can 'teach' you and that you've got to have a few more decades under your belt to grow and mature. Something about not having the requisite venom production organs fully developed or something like that. As for actual sparring, he said that it probably wouldn't be instructive, given the size difference between the two of you. Ignoring the mental image of fourteen yards of ancient snake constricting the life out of you, you left him to is tinkering to go practice

Your new guards are due in today, and as such, most of the nitor have vacated the area, leaving on Keel and two Schola aides still here, either to keep you briefed or get word on the centaur, probably both.

> No sign of the new 'help' yet. What do?

>>38611846
Well, as our big business chances are on hold for now until the centaur war stuff can be sorted, it would behoove us to work on our more stable venues. Namely, the ranch. Help out where you can, keep watch, things like that.

And maybe start considering security measures, if a war is going to be coming near here. Fix that rotted door, keep flammable hay away from the main house and in the disposable barn, any other farm raiding hazard I've not thought of. That sort of thing.

Oh, and if it's still early, get everyone coffee.

>>38611846
Can Daisy and Dahz come through the portal? I want to fetch them and Veles to meet Ms Patrick when she arrives. They're almost as much of a part of this ranch as ourselves. Other then that, I have no idea. Kill time and practice secreting venom?

>>38611994
Pretty much this. Make sure the hands are armed. We don't want raiders to have their way around these parts.

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>>38612130
The gateway is able to be traversed by anything, but activating it is another matter, Veles mentioned that its some sort of mix between old Troll rune magic creating a linked waypoint between two locations, and Draconic 'will' magic. At least that's what you got out of his explanation.

Also, if'n you want to talk to someone specific, please say so.

>>38612454
Let's talk to Marie, see what she knows about Ms Patrick. Meeting someone well-known like her seems like something she'd be gushing over.

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You figure your best bet is to just see to the ranch itself, you bigger picture business being on hold for now. Collecting your spent brass for yet another reuse. Slinging your rifle over one shoulder, and the satchel containing all your shooting supplies on the other, you slither back to the main compound. Since the raid by the faux McCain, you've already taken steps to ensure that the ranch is defensible and reducing the number of ways a potential saboteur could quickly damage your property. Still, you keep a watch out for anything that could be used in such a matter.

In doing so you run across Marie being relieve from centaur tending duties by Tatiana. "Is there something I can help you with Miss Masterson?" She asks, catching sight of you.

"Not really, to be honest, just wondering what you know of the whole Ms. Patrick business we have going on."

You expected her to gush, or at least start talking animatedly not frown and say "Not really, I never much kept up on that business."

"Really?" You ask, taken aback. "I figured you'd be THE person to know about notable people and all that. Especially someone famous and all."

"I know what they taught in the history books, but I don't quite buy it. Not denying that the paladin did a lot of good, more so than anyone could ask of someone, but parts are prolly glossed over."

Its your turn to frown, there's something she's not telling you here.

>Press her for information
>Leave it that, go talk to someone else.

>>38613917
>Press her for information
I want more sideplots and backstory.

>>38613917
>>Press her for information
well, modern day stuff then. Got any of that?

>>38613917
>>Press her for information

>>38613992
This. Getting an idea of what the celebrity might be like could allow us to perhaps insinuate our selves into her company. Becoming the official beef and horse supplier of a famous mercenary company could be lucrative.

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"I imagine there is more to the story here." You say, crossing your arms as you eyeball your harpy employee.

She shifts uncomfortably, "Its... complicated."

"I can do complicated, is this to do with those shadow folks mentioned a while back? And that necklace you wear?" Her abrupt stiffening is a dead give away. "Listen, I'm not going to pry if its none of my business, but if there's something wrong with this person that you know about, it'd be good for me to know."

"Its nothing like that its just." She sighs heavily, "I told you about a long time ago, there were a group stuck inside that citadel thing, right?" She starts off, continuing as you nod, "Well, from what I was told, time was different inside of there. They spent years trying to survive inside a veritable hell of combat. This was after their leader had met the Paladin Serpent, and she'd said that she'd help them and then the dome happened. So, she gets back in there, and decades have passed stuck in that hell and one guy pretty much held it together. Figure his name was Blue Jay or something like that. Anyway, right before the paladin blows that dome to bits, he gets killed fighting the horrors that the citadel had created. Fortunes of war and all that, not much you can do, that's fine. Its just after... well, there wasn't a damn thing shown for it. War with the Phoenix drew the paladins down to Purple Sands and left the survivors to pick up the pieces of what used to be their home."

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>>38615440
"That was half a millenia years ago." You respond, kind of at a loss.

She huffs at that. "I know, but still, even after that fact, the shadow company worked to rebuild what they could out of the mess that was citadel made it habitable. Made it so life could begin again, and people started to return. What'd they get in thanks? Pushed to the side, pushed into the very outskirts of the ruins by the wave of people who by and large had lived complacently as wilful thought slaves inside the citadel. They'd lost their leader and lacked any sort of charismatic presence to guide them. So they did what they did best. Made do with what they had. The shadow company had become but shadows of its former self."

"You seem to know an awful lot about this."

"They were still around you know. Even today. Stayed in the still uninhabited ruins of old citadel, living off the land. Something of a group of local heroes to the folks in the ghettos. Taking in runaways and urchins and teaching them proper skills, reading, writing, arithmetic, give them a fighting chance."

This is quite a lot to take in.

>I take it you're familiar with them then?
>And this has to do with the paladin how?
>Other

>>38615480
>>And this has to do with the paladin how?
And is she confirming or denying that the daughter works for the shadow company?

>>38615480
>And this has to do with the paladin how?

>>38615480
>I take it you're familiar with them then?

>>38615480
> And this has to do with the paladin how?

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"And this has to do with the paladin how? I mean, she's been gone almost half a century herself, right? Is her daughter working with this shadow company?"

"What!? No, no I can't imagine the shadows ever working with her. I mean, intentional or not, her mother pretty much abandoned us, I mean them, all that time ago." She clamps her wings over her mouth.

You raise your eyebrow. "Really?"

"Listen, the shadows took me in when I had nowhere else go, gave me food, shelter, education. Gave me a proper start. Then the companies forced them out. They were, are, family. I can't help but feel strongly about how they were wronged in the past."

"Yeah, but it was how many generations ago?" You responds.

"I know its irrational to carry a grudge over something like that for so long, but she had a lot of time to fix it and still nothing came of it. I won't cause a scene over having to deal with her, but I can't force myself to like it."

And that seems to be that.

>Go talk to McCain.
>Go check on the centaur.
>Go see if Veles wants to be a part of the welcome wagon.
>Other?

>>38616832
>Go see if Veles wants to be a part of the welcome wagon.
The gif's adorable.

>>38616832
>Go check on the centaur.
How's he doing? On the mend?

>>38616832
>Go check on the centaur.

>>38616832
Maybe we should check on the centaur for now

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You figure you've had enough of badgering the harpy for her life story and leave her to her break. Heading inside the bunkhouse, he slip into the side where Tatiana and the as of yet unnamed centaur are at.

[Is he any better?] You ask in Casimiran.

[Significantly.] Tatiana responds, [Jaw is well on the mend. Whatever your 'sawbones' or what it was those soldiers called him, did with the metal in his jaw will speed regeneration.]

[How soon before we can find out what happened?]

[Don't know, he's able to mumble, but I cannot understand him yet. The burns remain the worst part. Fire is something we do not recover from easily.]

She runs down the list of supplies she's gone through in tending to the sleeping casualty. Its sizeable, but less than you were expecting. Casimirans apparently heal a lot quicker than you'd expect. You imagine the Schola Nitor will have more than a few question in terms of biology.

You're interrupted by the sounds of a commotion outside.

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>>38618230
Slithering out, you're greeted to the sight of about 15 people of various races tending to a pair of wagons. At the forefront, near the barn, is a lamia. You can't make much from her features, but you do make out the bright red hair, and the orange and black banding along the length of her body. She's approaching Captain Keel, who has his hands on his face whether it be mirth or despair you can't tell. What you can tell is that she's got someone coiled up and is dragging him along. He doesn't look hurt, but he's struggling like mad. Its then you realize that the person she has is McCain, and she is talking animatedly as she approached the Nitor Caption.

You're almost stock still, and look over to where Marie is standing open mouthed at the spectacle, not at the other lamia, but at the group of people assembled near the wagons.

>Check on Marie
>Go help McCain
>other?

>>38618274
>Go help McCain

>>38618274
>>Go help McCain
Unhand our old man. That's not your old man.

>>38618274
>Check on Marie
Keel's got it handled, I want to know what's up with our harpy before she regains her composure.

>>38618274
> Go help McCain

>>38618274
>Go help McCain

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You approach the scene intent on helping out your foreman, catching the tail end of the conversation.

"What do you mean that he is supposed to be here." The lamia says, her some exasperation seeping into her professional sounding tone, "I recognize him from the academy, sure he look OLDER but you can magic that up just fine. This is definitely Two-Hands McCain. The wanted elf from the first wood rebellions."

"Miss Patrick, while I appreciate the initiative, there are extenuating circumstances involving Mister McCain." Keel starts to say only to be cut off.

"Extenuating circumstances? The man is a wanted criminal I remember that rebellion, yeah it was two decades ago but I know the statute of limitation on treason doesn't expire." She turns and regards you. "Sasha Masterson? Pleasure to meet you. Liama Patrick. Just call me Lia, my mother was abysmal at names. Pet names in particular. Nonetheless, I caught this dangerous criminal talking with one of Mister Serrak's foremen. Trying to infiltrate your compound I imagine."

You hear McCain gasp out, "A little help here miss?"

>?

>>38619107
He's been working here for decades. He's certainly not infiltrating for serrak. What, do you want to see his mailing history? Or his place in the old will?

>>38619107
He was marginalized in the rebleiion after he was wounded and had to put a lot of his old friends down. He ended it more throurughly than the army could have. Which kicked up his people curse for breaking the rules. I'm far more concerned with the young asshat claiming to be him who's attacked this palce twice now and is working for the PE. McCain has been nothing but a friend since I've known him.

>>38619107
Just laugh a deep, hearty laugh about this. Politely ask that she untie your foreman and aquaint herself with the ranch.

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>>38619179
>>38619236
>>38619337
Given it is rapidly approaching midnight, I'll compile these together and use it as the OP of the next thread. Which I will try and have up sometime later this week.

As always, thanks for reading. And apologies on the wait there in the beginning, had to double check some notes for the Marie backstory dump.

I'm so glad you guys talked to her beforehand, it's made this situation about ten times more hilarious. You'll see.

>>38619741
Thanks for running.

>>38619741
See ya next time, guy.

>>38619741
Thanks, Canid.