Nightmare Returns to the Palace Lands

In the battle for the Palace Lands, Rylen is not as much on the front-lines as many other Adventurers. While he still maintains that 'big damn hero' energy, most of his flamboyant and charming ways are not as useful when the battle is mostly subterfuge and stealth.

Instead, he has dedicated himself fully to the support role. At the moment, the Pooka is carrying supplies off of a newly arrived ship, completely shirtless, showing off muscular chest and back tattoo. Surely, some of the feminine members of the rebellion are appreciative of this, though it's more out of ease of function.

As the supplies are unloaded one might notice that despite the length of the trip the crew was in pretty high spirits. Mostly because they had good entertainment this trip, which was always an appreciated commodity amongst sailors.

Who that entertainment was Rylen would find out when he's handed a barrel of goods by one very familiar Nightmare Were Fang. "So this is where you've been keeping yourself busy," Kauchemar remarks, grinning. But not fully smiling, that shows off too many of her disconcertingly sharp for an equine teeth.

Looking up as a pair of familiar hands passes down a barrel, Rylen's determined look softens briefly and then spreads into a grin. "Well well, I had heard there was some good entertainment on this journey. I wasn't aware that you were the source of it, Lady Nightmare." He hefts the barrel up onto one shoulder, walking it down the gangway to the pier where others are already starting to load them onto carts.

"It's important to keep yourself busy. Besides, we're needed here." Then, almost conspiratorially, he adds, "Besides, I need to keep looking for ways to keep Xander engaged. He doesn't want to fight on the front lines any more, but that military mind needs to stay engaged."

With a roll of his eyes, Rylen adds, "He was talking about retiring and working on the farm for the rest of his days and that I might be a selfish asshole, but that doesn't work for me. I need a little more in my life."

Kauchemar laughs a bit. "Sounds about right for Xander. Even if he doesn't want to fight, his experience is more than valuable to Adventures and Rebels alike. And since their training is in a different military people like him and Kaydon can be a big variable the Palace Landers won't anticipate so easily."

Idly she uses her staff to grab a netted bundle of supplies by using the horns to hook it, then rests it over her shoulder like a hitchhiker's sack as she follows Rylen across the docks. "My venture in the tournament was short-lived this year, so I came back out here to see how things have been going."

"Even after years here, he still struggles." Rylen explains, tapping the side of his head with two fingers on his free hand. "I get it. What he's been through is hell, but..." Motioning an arm out at Seeker's landing, then at the sea beyond, "Have you seen this place? If the price for living in this world is trading the real one, I'm there in a heartbeat."

He grins, "Here, I'm Rylen, the hero. Back home, not so much." Still holding the barrel, waiting for a chance to deposit the burden onto a cart, the Pooka adds, "But Xander needs someone to keep pushing him forward or he digs his feet in and refuses to move."

Raising a brow, "Shame to hear. Seeing you fight is always a highlight. One of the best we've got, I think. Damn clever, too."

Kauchemar gives the concern over her loss a dismissive wave with a hand. "You know I do it mainly for the show. If I'm losing, I'm at least losing in style." Then resumes gripping her staff with both hands to lift it off her shoulder and deposit the netted bundle into the wagon with the other supplies. A light tug, then a snort as she reachs in to unhook the horns by hand before it tears something open. "And as the one playing the role of The Rival in the Duelist League it pleases me to see people have had to think about how they deal with that cleverness. So they'll be ready to deal with people who aren't going to pull their punches for showmanship."

"It's a noble sacrifice you make, darling." Rylen replies before setting down the barrel at last, rotating his shoulder slightly and rubbing at the muscle in the process. "I don't mind fighting for the sake of training, but I've had enough competition to last a lifetime. The only performing I intend to do is acrobatics."

Pause. "At least, once the war is over, anyways. I want to go back to traveling with my troupe again, see the world, bask in the love of adoring fans." He may not like competition, but Rylen clearly enjoys the spotlight.

"So, where do you plan on heading? I think most have been going out to the rebel camps to assist there."

Kauchemar gives her staff an extra flourishing twirl before resting it upon her shoulder once more. "Likely a lot of back and forth if it's like last time. I'm no fan of warfare... But it tends to put out high demand for the professional Messengers. Not all information that needs to move around the Rebellion is safe for chims. Or the risk of someone getting captured and reCrowned after hearing something."

With a bit of a smirk she taps a fingertip against her temple. "Plus I have the other Special Power if need be."

"It must be nice to be so wanted, though." Pale eyebrows lift upward as Rylen takes a moment to lean against the cart, giving himself a well deserved moment of rest. "But, I do hope you're being careful. As much as I adore you, I would hate to end up having fight against you if some ill-fate befell you or one of the others."

It's hard to know how Rylen would even fare against the others, especially as he isn't part of the duelist league and generally doesn't 'spar' for fun. "Once it looks like we are ready to take the fight to the Palace Landers, I'll probably head out to the front lines. I'm better suited there than to sneaking around and subterfuge." He explains.

"For now, I just make myself useful here. Dealing with animals and monsters and acting as manual labor." A smirk follows.

"Everyone can't be good at everything. Or there would be no point to there being everyone. And don't for a minute let anyone tell you filling those support tasks isn't just as important. In some ways its more so." Kauchemar flicks a hand through her glamrock mane and gives her head a little shake to redeposit most of the length behind her shoulders. Save the stray few locks that refuse to be anywhere but. "Don't worry. Even with speed, stealth and subtefuge skills I'm not dumb enough to try and go out there alone."

Of course being a summoner she's rarely ever alone in the first place, but I think we can tell the difference between that and when she means having a few fellow Adventurers nearby as well.

"There is more to being a hero than all the flashy stuff. Sometimes, being a hero is helping the little guy, or bringing supplies, or just being a shoulder for someone who needs it." A grin lights up Rylen's face as he reaches for a towel and uses it to wipe a bit of sweat from his brow. Then, he dunks it into a barrel of water and slings it around his neck.

"It's something Crescent Moon drilled into me that I won't forget, even if I do move on elsewhere at some point. There aren't really newbies in the game anymore. We've all been here long enough to figure out our niche." Rylen cants his head, "Time to rediscover mine, I think."

Her reassurances get a nod from the Beastmaster, "Good. I'd be lying if I didn't admit that the thought of friends being turned against us scares me a bit. There are certain people I'd have a hard time fighting against."

"And we all know I'm an attention horse!" It's not hard to tell what similar sounding but less publicly appealing to say word Kauchemar is punning there. "But that doesn't mean I don't enjoy it being earned, either."

In her mind she makes a joke about the horror of the enemy weaponizing Uta's randomness. But seeing as Uta is someone Rylen is close to, and probably one of those in the 'hard time fighting against' for him, she respectfully keeps it to herself. She's a nightmare, not an ass.

Instead she just nods her head. "Yeah, this ordeal is messy enough without it turning into friend vs friend, brother vs sister, so on. There's enough that amongst the locals I'm sure."

"An... attention horse." Rylen laughs outright. It's a deep belly laugh that seems to draw the attention of some of those around them. Most of them hadn't heard Kauchemar.

"When the war is over, I should hire you for a few shows with the troupe. I'm sure you you'd fit right in among us misfits and performers." He wipes at the edge of one eye, obviously grateful for the humor in times like these. "It's one of the things I'd always loved about this place. That I can find ways to bring joy to people."

He winks in her direction, "Though, I imagine that your performances could be quite the opposite if you wanted them to be."

"I would not object to going on a Yamato World Tour. Or here. The people will probably need the emotional boost of a good time." Kauchemar smirks, while playfully waggling a finger at Rylen. "I -am- a Nightmare, after all... but those performances are saved for the enemy that deserves them." She holds her hands out indicatively, staff still held in one. "There's a difference between scaring for entertainment, and scaring someone half to death." When she says the second part there is even a flicker of ghostly light in the eye sockets of Grindcore's skull.

"Well, we are getting to that time of year again. It might be the perfect time to do a little of both." Rylen suggests, inclining a head in her direction.

At that moment, the cart starts to move behind him and it neatly unbalances the Beastmaster, who has to catch himself. "Looks like they're bringing in another cart. So it's back to work. We should catch a drink sometime, though. I'd love to hear about your tournament match."

With that, he raises a hand in a goodbye, then heads back towards the ship for another load of supplies.

Kauchemar raises a hand to wave back. "Will do." Then turns the follow the wagon back to the Landing proper, and find out just where they want her running off to next.