Empires of Ashes Reboot

*the sad expression intensifies a little.*
LI: May I put my helmet back on now, sir?
Trajan: of course, LI. Whatever makes you comfortable.
LI: thankyou. *she does so*
Trajan: LI is somewhat... special. The others do not tend to so much as talk. From what I've gathered from her, they can, they just don't want to. She's uncomfortable talking, she's uncomfortable showing her face. I even asked if she'd prefer a more normal name than her number. She turned it down. Like with showing her face, having any other name made her uncomfortable. *sighs, although Ket can tell it is a caring sigh*

Mord: *Is rather surprised by Ket’s attitude, but it’s hard to tell beneath the smile* “Given time I’m sure she’ll grow used to it”

Ket pauses, as he absorbs this information. "... Hmn. If such is true. I feel i should not so much hate you... as pity you. And hate your creators all the more. Not so much was the life of a warrior thrust upon you, but that of a weapon."

Trajan: my thoughts exactly...although I am still piecing together the details.

Ket has not broken eye contact with LI yet, his stern frown behind his helm, slowly lifting, and changing to a look of concern. "In which case, i do apologize. Should all this be correct, in all things... we have more in common than i would care to admit."

LI simply gives him a subtle nod.

"You've given me a lot to think on." *he turns to leave the tent.*

Trajan: Farewell then, prince. Get some rest. We march before sunrise.

"I will have the way ahead scouted." *he ducks out of the tent, and is followed by his immortals*

*unless you have anything else in mind, perhaps a skip is in order?*

*sure*

*Some time before dawn, The camp is almost entirely packed and ready to march*

The Immortals are ready to move, with men sent out on horseback already, ranging ahead.

likewise, a good number of the auxiliaries have already been dispatched as scouts. It doesn't take long before all of the legions are on the move.

Ket rides over towards the dracian column.

*It isn't very hard to figure out where in the column Trajan is*

He rides towards it, followed by a single one of his immortals, also on horseback.

Trajan is riding alongside several other officers, all bearing the Sigil and number of the IV Legion on their cloaks or armour. With that already becoming unmistakable smile, Trajan spots Ket approaching, and gives a Dracian salute in his direction.

Ket taps his sternum twice with his right hand, his left holding the reins, in the kelthrovi way. "Consul."

Trajan: Prince. Lovely day for a ride, eh?

Ket: "The sun has yet to rise. But i believe you are right. See the red glow of the sun? We shall have rain today." *He gestures to the horizon, where a gentle red glow is beginning to flare*

Trajan: Ah, respite and punishment both *chuckles* The men won't be happy they'll have to clean their armour off once we make camp again.

Ket: "I was going to ask of that actually. You see our armour is sand scrubbed?" *he gestures to his own armour, which is dull from vertical scratches.*

Trajan: yes?

Ket: "Instruct your men to do the same. Rust is not an issue in these dry climes, and your polished armour is as a beacon in the sun."

Trajan: A fair point. Caius!
*one of the tribunes approaches Trajan*
Caius: Sir?
Trajan: You heard the man. Inform the Legates.
Caius: yes sir! *rides off*

Ket: "Willing to learn. Certainly you are the protege the dracian people praise you as."

Titus: *the prefect* *in the tone of a good natured ribbing* Please, Prince, do not inflate his ego any further.
Trajan laughs at that

Ket: Looks at the prefect, and flashes white teeth behind his helm. "Perhaps my accent belies my sarcasm." He chuckles a little, then leans back in his saddle, and looks over at his immortals.

Titus: perhaps a tad, Prince. *slight smile*

Ket: "When my praise is genuine, i shall be sure to have it in writing."

Trajan: anyway, did you need anything?

Ket: "No, i merely thought to check all was well."

Trajan: aye, indeed it is. Justin!
*the first spear centurion approaches*
Justin: Sir!
Trajan: how're the men, morale good?
Justin: It's the 4th sir. They'd follow you down a dragon's throat if you asked.
Trajan: Good. As you were, centurion.
*he salutes and walks back to his position*

The immortal with ket follows the first spear with their gaze. Deep blue eyes, sad eyes.

Trajan: *spotting this* Are you alright?

*They look up at him, the black veil covering their features serving its purpose. Then, in a flat toned, dracian accent, with a hint of kelthrovi, most definitely female, they reply.* "...Nothing, Consul."

Trajan: May I ask your name, ma'am?

Immortal: "Diana Marcia."

Trajan: A pleasure to make your aquaintence, Diana. *smiles. This time more just genuinely friendly rather than his usual charisma* If it is not too private a subject, did the prince rescue you from slavery like so many others under his command?

Diana: "I was offered a sword."

Trajan: *Nods in understanding* Our Alliance is more fortuitous than I thought, Ket'verahi. My legions and I do our best...but you can never save everyone. I'm glad to see someone is able to rescue at least some of those we cannot.

Ket: "Being offered a sword is not... Rescue as you say... It is being given the tools to free ones self."

Trajan: giving them a chance to be free of their torment and suffering. Sounds like rescue in my book.

Ket: "Some fail."

Trajan: A chance is a chance. More than most offer them.

Ket: "True enough. *he switches to kelthrovi* You may ride to your T'sebi, if you wish diana. I am quite safe."
She replies in fluent kelthrovi, not so flowing as his, but fluent.
Diana: "I wish to be sure of it."

Trajan makes note of the exchange, but says nothing of it. Diana does notice she has attracted the attention of LI

Diana returns LI's look with an icey glare, spurring her steed a little closer to ket's and dropping a hand to her hilt.

It only takes a couple of moments to see the look is of interest, not hostility.
anyway, skip to next camp

The immortals have camped across the oasis from the dracian camp. Not opposite, for that would make reinforcing one another impractical. But as far as could be done without creating undue hazard.