Chapter 37: Vampire
With a nod at their departure, the three men walk out of the small chapel, Runt leading the way with Porter while Agador trails a step or two behind. Walking together, the three men look something like odd-sized nesting dolls, Porter a massive specimen of a man that dwarfs the other two, Agador strong in his own right, though not yet full grown, and Runt, the smallest by far of the three, not even rising up to Porter's waist.
As they walk and talk, Porter searches the small town with his eyes, looking for signs of the locale's character, what sort of people live here, what sort of rules exist, and which ones of those are followed.
His initial observations glean him little.
The buildings here are almost exclusively a chalky, red brick, and decidedly new. The windows are small and high, leaving little opportunity for voyeurism without standing right at the edge and glaring inward. What little wood is used on the structures here are dedicated to the higher buildings, particularly the high watch towers that stand at two corners of the town.
Runt leads on, walking the back length of a long, two-story structure. On their right, a small and empty open-air market spans the distance between the three and the largest structure in the town, a thirty-foot stone and brick citadel that is some sixty feet wide and complete with frontal parapets.
Runt makes his way around the edge of the building, revealing on the other side several more single-story buildings, some in various states of semi-construction, and Porter notes a mule-cart laden with the muddy red cubes and a pair of masons spreading paste as they continue their construction. Porter's glance stays one the two men for several moments, but they do not speak, nor seem to take any note of Porter, but continue laying the bricks a few at a time in silence.
At the door of the small tavern, Runt finally stops as he is beckoned by Porter to show him something of the magic he has learned. Starting slowly and not entirely sure of himself, Runt begins to move his hands and feet in the precise motions that Norla has dictated. Expecting little, if anything of his spell, Runt is surprised and quite happy with himself as he hears the clear peal of the church bells of Craine. Not loud, but clear and unmistakable.
Agador's head turns at the sound, his eyebrows raised and a look of stern appraisal across his face.
Just then, the inn's door opens, and Runt turns his head to see Rudyard, the middle aged merchant whose cart he stowed away on to hide from Deng... starting a whole new chapter of his life in this remote corner of Megalos.
"Eh Runt? Good to see you are well! I had thought the worst had happened for sure when you ran away from us like that!"
OOC: Great roleplay between the two of you, thanks for filling in the time. I tried to do justice to Porter's request for looking at laws and rules, but there isn't a lot of people watching at the moment. There will be more evidence on that front in time for sure.
I stopped here as Runt took you to the tavern/inn first and it seemed appropriate to give a moment for the reacquaintance. Feel free to ask Rudyard for information as desired. Porter, please roll vs. reaction or any normal social skill.