A Walk in the Neighborhood

[Brian]

Now that Bjorn, Nathan, and Parthipan are gone, Phil is left alone with Eske, Mattias, and Kevin.

[Dracos]

"Is there anything else I can assist with here, Lord Kevin?"  Dracos asks, glancing over the gathered crew still remaining.

Dracos

[Brian]

"Nothing," Kevin says, shaking his head.  "You should get some rest while you still can."

[Dracos]

Dracos nodded.  "Yeah, just want to clear my head a bit first.  May the night be restful for you."

Dracos heads out, starting a slow walk around the keep, his eyes looking for magic and things that are off.

Dracos

[Brian]

You walk across the courtyard, scanning for things that are out of the ordinary....

Your eyes pick up magic, in places.  The entire keep has a subdued, but omnipresent glow.  The front wall of the keep is painfully bright to look at, carved and marked with great runes and words that seal it as a defensive structure.

The towers each have their own wards on them.  Deep below the ground, there's more -- much more.  But your eyes can't see through the earth to identify what it is ... you just know that it's there.

[Dracos]

Dracos remains quiet as he walks, getting a feel for the place, keeping his eyes open also for humans emitting any odd auras or glows.  He particularly keeps his eyes out for any of his companions, Durant especially.

Dracos

[Brian]

You find Durant after a while.  He's loitering behind the keep, on the opposite side of the cluster of buildings that contain (among other things) Ekim's forge staring at the ground and tuning his lute.

[Dracos]

Dracos subtly eyes the surroundings, checking how crowded it is as he  moves in that direction.

Dracos

[Brian]

He's between two buildings, sitting on a stump.  A few people from the camp could glance over, but considering Durant's (relative) fame at the keep, he probably chose this spot to be out of the way.

[Dracos]

Dracos heads over, fairly casually.  "Greetings, Durant.  I take it you've found ample use  for your craft here?"

Dracos

[Brian]

"That's a good way to put it," he says tiredly.  "You know, I always figured morale officers actually had really crappy jobs ... but this isn't too bad."

[Dracos]

Dracos nodded.  "Looks like you've been doing a pretty good job of it.  Look tired though, how much rest have you been getting?"  Dracos slowly lowers the discussion volume as he talks, keeping a general eye if anyone is snooping closer as he continues with small talk.

Dracos

[Brian]

You don't see anyone around.  At least, no one obviously watching you.

"I slept last night," Durant says after a moment.  "But I keep going out to look for stuff.  Captain Bjorn has decided that the lazy brigade was full, and has me spending most of my time looking for traitors."

[Dracos]

"He's commander now.  Hear anything interesting?"

Dracos

[Brian]

Durant grunts.  "Nothing," he says.  "I pointed out a suspicious lorekeeper to Dr. Swarthicus, though."  He frowns.  "Tons of Storm-riders.  Maybe I'll learn something new, eh?"