Standing in the Shadows

    "Huh."
    Rather than block the path, the big black bull steps to one side so he can gaze up at the floating city without being a navigational hazard.  And that's what he does for a moment, just stare upwards, hands on hips, lower lip thrust out appraisingly.
    "Definitely more impressive from underneath," is his ultimate assessment.  He's not speaking to any audience beyond himself, although his natural low rumble tends to carry.
    When he returns his attention to ground level, the lower lip remains thrust out, and he stands there irresolutely.

"Normally, people would ask 'what's up?' upon encountering someone looking this bewildered," comes a voice down the path, "But in this case I think the answer is pretty self-evident."

The Werefang lion responsible for the comment comes closer now, traveling pack over one shoulder and a sticky bun in one hand, half-eaten. For a warrior, Galant tends to be rather light in the realm of armor, clearly preferring speed over everything else. "It's pretty impressive, though, isn't it? Hanging in midair precisely the way bricks don't?" He stops and glances upwards, bringing the bun to his muzzle for another bite, "Makes you wonder why nobody has invented para-gliding here."

The bun, like all food, tastes like soggy crackers. But at least he can imagine it's a delicious sticky bun.

    "Hm?"  It takes the bull a moment to break out of his reverie and focus on the unexpected intrusion.  "Probably because no one has invented nylon and reliable safety harnesses," he muses in reply, raising an eyebrow at the casual references to both paragliding and Douglas Adams.  "I wouldn't trust myself to jump off there supported by broadcloth and hemp twine."
    And then he bows very slightly.  "Garryck.  Those things probably aren't very good for you," he says, indicating the bun.

"Hm?" The lion looks at the bun, and lets out a chuckle. "Quite the contrary, they're /very/ good for me." Keep lying to yourself, Gallant. The only thing he misses from the Old World is the taste of food. Well, the taste of food that is not soggy crackers. "Gallant. New World. So what makes you pause along the way to philosophize on the view? On your way in or out of the fort?"

    Garryck offers his hand, smiling slightly at 'New World'.  "Likewise. And in, I guess.  My wandering brought me this way, and I haven't seen the city before.  I suppose I'll have to go up eventually, but it's kind of fascinating from beneath.  More interesting than from a distance, I think.  How about you?  Just wandering, as well?"

"A little something like that, only not quite." Finishing his bun, he shakes Garryck's hand and flashes a wide grin, "I've been involved with the defense effort on and off. Bringing supplies, running with patrols, that sort of thing. I'm on my way to the fort to restock before heading out again."

He glances up at the fort, one eyebrow up. "Two places down, but at least there's some comfort in knowing that this place will be /very/ hard for them to overtake, if it gets to be that way. But right now, it looks like Eas may be the next place to come under attack..."

He glances back down at Garryck, "So what do you do around here? You an adventurer?"

    "Adventurer?  Not by design, but... interesting things have a way of happening.  I hadn't planned to get involved in any of the fighting, but that may not be a decision I get to make."  Garryck glances upwards at the city again.  "Besides, it really does have to stop *somewhere*, doesn't it?"
    He stretches, and shakes his arms out, like he's trying to wake himself up.  "What do I do around here?  Nothing much, yet.  But maybe I could be talked into the defense effort."
    Without waiting for any case to be made, he adds, "Okay, you talked me into it."

"If it needs to stop somewhere, at this point it's going to have to stop with a blade aimed at the neck of Queen Lampreymouth Lollipop," Gallant says, with some considerable heat to his tone. "There's a dog of hers, a sheriff, who is her obsessive lackey. Don't touch him if you see him- he's mine." His hand rests on the harness across his chest, which holds up the twin blades across his back.

"Talked into? Well? We've got long marches under the moon, get to meet interesting people and then smack them around. Keep hostile forces from overruning the land-- and the beach parties. Did I mention the beach parties?"

He chuckles, "What about your skill set? What do you specialize in?" He realizes he could take a peek at Garryck's name on the UI, to see what titles were displayed there. But this was more fun- getting people to tell you about themselves. It made things more real, an he wanted to make this place as real as it could be, warts and all.

    Garryck chuckles, a low rumbling noise.  "I like a nice long walk in the moonlight.  As for where I specialize... it's in not being what people expect."
    He reaches back to pat the headstock of a harp, just visible over his shoulder.  "There's this, of course.  And I mix a pretty good potion.  Most people take one look at me and make some unfortunate assumptions, and then next thing they know, they've been out-thought instead of punched out."  He grins, and winks.  "I find that lesson is a little more lasting."

The Lion chuckles and raises his eyebrows, "Aha, so someone smart enough to enjoy being underestimated! And an alchemist to boot. You know..." he strokes his chin, "An alchemist is /always/ useful. In fact, I was in this town plagued by the undead... we could have used someone handy with potions then. We barely got out of that in one piece!"

He gives the 'taur an appraising look, "Well, can I tempt you to the defense of a righteous cause? I know a few people who'd like to have someone of your talents around. Who knows? You might be the one to decant the solution to our problems." Toothy grin.

    "Maybe.  I mean, it depends -- were you serious about the beach parties?"
    Garryck grins back just as broadly.  "Decant the sol... I saw what you did.  Right, I need to keep an eye on your mouth."  The bull smirks.  "Or maybe I'm a little cranky I didn't think of that first.  And I'm rarely at a loss for a retort."
    He glances up at the city again.  "And besides," he adds, "maybe it's time I stayed in one place for longer thah half an hour."

"Excellent! If I'm going to recruit you to the cause, then I should first treat you to food- it's tradition. Of mine. Even if there's really nothing glamorous about soggy cracker steak with a side of soggy cracker mashed potatoes. With soggy cracker gravy..." he shrugs.

"So the food's not glamorous, but there /are/ beach parties, so there is that." He gestures and begins to walk towards the teleportation circle. "And once we're ready to go back on the road again, I /have/ to introduce you to Kaydon. He's a gnoll. Very strong. Also very cranky, but he's got a good heart. When you catch him at the right time," he winks.

    "Don't forget the soggy cracker strawberry shortcake," Garryck remarks, following along.  "You know, half the reason I learned alchemy was so at least my drinks would taste good.  Also.  Steak... *really*?"
    He tries, and fails, to suppress a chuckle.  "Oh, all right.  As long as it isn't anyone I know."