March of Cold Rhapsody

[Alexian]

The smooth sound of mechanical gear-work resounded out through the western causeway as the western gate of the Capital City arose, this gatehouse used primarily when an army of Draconis was leaving the capital. Beautiful maidens and strong lads waved to the hundred guardsmen soldiers now marching down the street, banners of the Dragon Guard waving at the fore of the formation. These banners showed a black dragon on red clutching a sword and shield, though many didn't pay too much attention as the gleaming wyvernsteel armor of the mounted knights glinted in the day, the hundred knights and their squires following the Dragon Guard. The banner flag of the dragonhorse with half-lance billowed as the standard of Draco Equis. The Dragon Guard now began marching forth out of the gate and towards the Bastion of Frostvale while the Equis remained at the gate and received the swoons of many women. Finally, the Draco Nivis in their dragonwrought armor reaches the parade grounds, a palanquin sandwiched between the hundred men on dragonhorses.

Any who looked skyward would see a contingent of ten dragons including the Red Dragon Imrinth among them fly over the soldiers as the last of the Draco Nivis left the gate. The group's first stop was a camp just outside of town, while the formation shifted to fifty Draco Equis on each side of the one-hundred-man block of Draco Nivis and the Dragon Guard taking the front flank. The formation of three hundred came to the campsite occupied by the parties of adventurers who would be joining them southwest and the party grew to a modest three-hundred forty. Whoever lead the formation had deep knowledge of the land as the formation avoided caravans and the lot, utilizing the natural plains rather than passing by the paved highway. At the end of their first day they had covered a quarter of the distance by horse and camped upon a raised portion of land next to the Deimos Mountains, with only two paths up the plateau. Colorful tents of the rainbow were pitched, and food was cooked. Knights and some adventurers had the chance to get out of their steel armor and stretch.

Eventually dusk turned to night and the camp was only illuminated by the night moon and the torches that dotted the camp. The central section was blocked off by wood palisades and quicklime, available only for the knighted while guardsmen, adventurers, and squires camped within the outer region. The mess was in the outer region though, so the palisade was mainly used for security purposes one could surmise. Within the largest of the tents was Emperor Kirin Tsuchi himself, having just dismissed his council he remained within the reinforced tent and leisurely bathed. If there was any danger that could break or sneak through the Draco Equis and Draco Nivis, Imrinth was nearby. After bathing, Kirin stepped out and was clothed by his butler, then moved into a different partition to lay with his wife.

[Hedgehog]

Rakk lightly stirs a pot over a small flame, deciding to try a bit of cooking.. They pull up a spoon and take a sip, "urk... Maybe I should stick to smithing..." Rakk's eyes water a bit as they seem to have added too much spice to their mystery brew.

They consider dumping the pot and starting over, but they feel reluctant to trash their hard work.. Even if it is difficult for them to stomach. They glance around, wondering if perhaps a person with better experience might know how to save their dinner.

[Alexian]

Rakk was joined by one of the Squires of Draco Equis, a portly-looking Dragonian with black scales that covered his entire body and blackened fin that crested the male's head. He a padded gambeson of fine cloth over his other clothes which were standard issue, and had his Drake Longsword sheathed at his right hip. The male held a decanter of water and a pair of tongs, pulling the meat out of the brew and then quenching it in ice-cold water to wash away the spice and stop the cooking process now that it was done. He spoke in a deep and slightly gravelly tone. "The meat can be saved but the stew will have to begin anew. I would suggest using hen stock and natural aromatics instead of black spice. Here, I can show you a bit of what I know."

[Hedgehog]

Rakk blushes a little and seems a hair disappointed yet slightly relieved at the same time, quickly but carefully repeating the process he just showed them, rescuing the food from the pot, "Ah.. I see.. Thank you very much. I was worried I'd be dipping into my personal supply of emergency Rations to keep from going hungry tonight," Rakk sighs and once they've recovered the food itself, reluctantly dispose of the inedible soupy mess.. Rakk turns to their Rescuer once again now with a fresh starting point "Please show me then, I'd appreciate the help.. Uh.. I'm sorry, I don't seem to recall introductions happening yet.. My name is Rakk Uge, and you are?" they watch carefully to learn how to properly cook the stew this time as they make small talk.

[Alexian]

"My name is Zodd Krolteal, a squire of Draco Equis. I was once a sergeant of the guardsmen and commanded my own squad of guard but now I've moved on to seek knighthood. I suppose you could say my personal hobby would be cooking and baking bread, and I'm good at it." He said, as he reached into his backpack and withdrew a pewter cauldron that was placed over the fire Rakk had started. He then pulled out a cast-iron deep skillet and tossed hen bones into it after putting it on another spit and igniting it with a small bit of fire from his fingers. Zodd went about chopping up onion and garlic in slow motion to show Rakk how he made each knife-cut, then placed the mixture into the skillet along with some oil from what looked like a waterskin and some aromatic herbs finely-cut. He was also dicing carrots and potatos for the stew, and set those aside.

"Never use the new 'Hen Broth from Can' and always make your own with some vegetable oil, hen bones, diced onion and garlic, and some herbs. In this mixture I'm using oregano which hadd an earthy note to the taste, and asparagus for the bit of acidic element. Cook over an easy flame for one hour then remove the bones, you have your stock. It should be a somewhat-clear liquid with a slight bit of thickness to it." Zodd commented, handing some parchment and a quill to Rakk in order to take notes. His stock seems ready thirty minutes into the cook, and he quickly siphons the bones and chunks that haven't yet dissolved out, placing it along with the meat, carrots, and potatos, into the cauldron. He then takes out a packet of brown 'spice' from his pocket and drains half of it into the cauldron.

"This is Curry Power, it'll thicken the broth to a sauce, and it magnifies the taste of the meat and the broth. You can find these pouches along with all of the vegetables and aromatics I used at Requisitions, though I also like to use ingredients that are freshly harvested myself or found in the wild."

[Hedgehog]

Rakk pays close attention and carefully takes notes up until it's done, "Nice to meet you Zodd, I'm happy you assisted me with my meal.." Rakk sniffs the air and sighs lightly, recognizing the smell is much more pleasing than that of their earlier attempt. They watch eagerly as the food becomes ready for consumption, "as for me, I'm what some might call an assassin.. But that merely refers to my combat abilities and is by no means my only approach to combat or the working world.. I also certainly won't take an innocent life, I have principles after all, standards" their Wings shift slightly, something Rakk does every so often when they haven't been used for a while, just a way to keep them from getting stiff.

[Alexian]

Nice to meet you too, Rakk; and it was no problem, I just saw you having some problems with your meal and stepped in to help." Zodd said with a slight smile, listening to the explanation of Rakk tellking the black-scaled Dragonian what they did for a living and where their expertise laid. He shrugged his head, not minding that the other as an assassin, as Rakk had likely been hired by the adventurers' guild for the purpose of guarding the convoy. He says with a heavy tone of sarcasm, "You're not here to assassinate Emperor Tsuchi are you?"

[Hedgehog]

Talk let's out a giggly laugh and has trouble catching their breath, "no, heh heh.. No, I assure you that I have nothing to gain from killing him, nor any desire to do so~" Rakk chuckles for a moment, then let's out a content sigh, "heh.. Oh thank you Zodd.. I've not had a decent laugh for quite some time.." Rakk scoops out some of the meal and puts it into a bowl, then gives it to Zodd, "you used some of your ingredients to make this stew a success, you deserve at least half of it. I insist".

[Alexian]

"Well, that is good to hear." Zodd replies half-chuckling, "Hahaha.. then I am glad to have given you one, Rakk. I will accept your officering as well." the black-scaled dragonian stated as he pulled out a fine metal-wrought stew bowl and receives the poriion of the meal within it. He then produces a second one for Rakk and grabs two wooden spoons from the requisition pack. The bowls though, seemed too personal to have been gained from Requisitions. They looked to be some sort of personal heirloom.

[Hedgehog]

Rakk takes note and gets a little curious, "these bowls don't seem like they came from requisitions.. Do you travel with your own personal Kitchen and cookware?" its the first time she's met a soldier that would bother to bring an entire supply of cooking and eating utensils.

[Alexian]

"The bowls at the very least are old family heirlooms that have been in the family for the last few generations at least; I keep good care of them so they are still in mint condition. As far as the cookware, I keep a barebones kit of pots and pans on me due to my passion for cooking when not otherwise occupied with military life and my squire duties - though I wouldn't call it a personal kitchen more like a makeshift kitchen. Still better than requisitioned gear for cooking in camp hehe." Zodd answered with a warm smile and slight chuckle. He he then picked up the wooden spoon and breathes a slight gust to cool the overly warm stew, eating a spoonful of the stew with glee. He then takes several more spoonfuls into his mouth and chews them down, offering Rakk to do the same.

Activity could be spotted a few kilometers away within the eastern edge of the camp as those soldiers and knights arrayed on the opposite side of the massive campground were collapsing their tents and preparing to get a move on. The lull of boots marching could be heard as the roughly hundreds began to head out, ahead of everyone else. Among the group a pair of regal carriages one a velvet crimson while the other was a royal violet in hue. A small number of supply wagons followed. "Seems like Emperor Tsuchi is moving out along with the Draco Nivis, there must be an urgent issue for the emperor to be moving ahead of the group."

[Hedgehog]

Rakk nods and tries some of the stew.. They are about to ask a question but the flavor hits them, "Oh wow, this is really good!!" Rakk starts eating a bit faster so their cheeks can be full of the flavor.. They then look to the aspiring and give a thumbs up.

Rakk then recalls their question, "So.. Does that mean it's time for us to get moving again?" they are ready to break camp.

[Alexian]

"Having been with the Guardsmen for fourty years, my military knowledge for the Empire is pretty up to snuff. As such I'd wager to say that we will be given until morning to rest. We'll likely be breaking camp and leaving at early morning - not quite first light but maybe an hour or so after. The most likely scenario is that highwaymen have set up on the side road ahead and Emperor Tsuchi wishes to personally deal with it. I've heard tell of such, but the highwaymen aren't nearly as strong to warrant it. Perhaps they've hired adventurers to aid them." Zodd surmised, not seeming to mind a single bit that he was talking military matters before someone not in service to the military. He secretly hoped that he'd be able to distinguish himself in such a fight, that his knight would seek to sponsor him after witnessing his courage. But it wasn't destined to happen today.

[Hedgehog]

”should be helpful to have extra adventurers to help us” Rakk muses