War of the Lost Kingdom

Finn lands, unnecessarily doing a frontflip beforehand.

The dark haired man's brow rose. He looked over to a mercenary that seemed to be standing around watching the exchange.


"Why'd they try to throw a sellsword from the window?" he asked.

"T-the sellsword used magic, m'lord!" he said through his hands. "The little'n. The halfling that kept using magic yesterday."

The dark haired man pinched the bridge of his nose. "Seems we may have just got a suspect, huh?" he muttered to himself, unconcerned of people overhearing. He regarded Greta as she spoke. "Ma'am, I don't know what constitutes a brawl for you, but that man's nose is broken, and the magic halfling's face looks like hamburger."


"Really wanted breakfast too... You, Jgorjen, go get the Legate." He turned to the rest of the soldiers in the room interspersed around the remaining mercenaries. "Company, don't let anybody leave the barrack. If I can't eat, they can't either. Not until this is done."

The mercenaries began complaining loudly while the soldiers formed up near the door, keeping people from leaving.

He did have a rank insignia. The ponytailed man looked at Johann with a discerning eye. "Look. You're only here because our own military is not able to handle this as well as two wars in the south. We're paying, and we're paying well. It's worth being treated like military. Our military. I got the same wake up when I was still a soldier. If they're not stable enough to handle a rude awakening, they're not worth keeping on. And for the record, that wake-up is on the order of my centurion." He crossed his arms. "Now in the back, please. There's been a murder and that halfling there is our primary suspect."

Soldiers, upon hearing this, began inching closer to Finn. They seemed ready to detain.

"A murder." he agreed. Above it being obvious he was an officer, the amount of design on his insignia could signify it as a low officer rank.

The Legate entered the room, and it seemed he was sweating a little bit from a jog. He looked the room over. He spotted ponytail, walking over in an air of authority. "Optio Sectus, you may stand down. I will be handling the situation from here."


Sectus saluted, taking his leave almost immediately. Legate Cassium looked over the room. He spotted Finn with a spark of recognition. He frowned, but nodded to the soldiers encroaching upon him.

The soldiers were now going toward Finn, one brandishing iron shackles. If nothing is done, Finn will be handcuffed.

"We'll take it into consideration... You may join this investigation if you like, Hunter." said the Legate to Johann. "But from what I've heard, the halfling was assaulted by some of these mercenaries, not the soldiers of our fort. A man's body was found speared on the fountain in the square, with signs of magical damage. He is the only one who has displayed magical use so flagrantly from what I hear, so it's a simple thought to conclude he's suspect. We're not so callous as to not entertain the thought he's innocent, but we need to take him into custody for now. So he isn't killed, or if he is the perpetrator he doesn't run." He snapped his fingers, and the fort soldiers began shackling Finn. He then turned to Greta, regarding her. "Absolutely. He will be notified that one of his bodyguards is a suspect in a murder."

He regarded the party of vouchers as a whole, looking each of them in the eye as he spoke. "Rest assured, we don't have the lack of control that untrained mercenaries do. He won't be beaten any further. In fact, his wounds will be seen to first." He turned his voice to the crowd. "As for this assault... This is a land of laws, people. We will, too, be arresting the instigators of this crime as well. Step forward, so everybody else can leave sooner."

Despite the noble intentions that blooded mercenaries are known for, the conscious brawlers seemed reticent to come forward, trying to blend with the crowd.

As Johann passed Finn, a lockpick clattered loudly on the floor. Johann managed to scoop it up just in time for people to think he'd dropped something. (unless Johann chooses not to pick it up of course.)

---

As Ian rounded a corner, he was met with two soldiers walking past, with a halfling between them - none other than Finnan Greenbottle.