Leoric opens the door to the pub.

[nick]

As the Head of the Black Order enters the Barra's pub, armed to the teeth and encased in chainmail, the normally rowdy crowd grow silent for a moment, staring, before going back to their drinks and chatter after a handful of tense seconds.

Leoric leads Belladonna to a quiet corner of the pub, where they would be unlikely to be disturbed or overheard, then takes a seat at a table.

"So, it's good to see you again. Please, if you have any questions, feel free to ask."

[Leah]

Belladonna enters the tavern and gazes around her at the patrons, all of whom seem at ease and friendly, if a little rowdy. A large table of men that are playing a dice game in the corner pause to stare at them, then turn back to their games.

She stands by the chair without sitting, watching as Leoric sits down. She glances from him to the chair that sits pushed under the table for a few moments before pulling it out on her own and sitting down. "I see you've forgotten the etiquette lessons we took together? It was never your strong suit, I know." She laughs, pushing some black hair away from her eyes.

"Questions..." She mused, "There are many, but I suppose the most important one should come first. What would you like to drink?"

[nick]

Leoric grins and chuckles for a moment, locking the fingers of his gauntleted hands together as he leans on the table.

"Out here in the real world, you aren't going to want people treating you differently because of your gender. They've got to know you can, and will, tear into everyone that gets in your way. But still, yes, I never did pay much attention to those lessons."

He looks up at the bar, contemplating for a moment, before summoning the barkeep with a beckoning gesture.

"I will have a humble tankard of your finest, watered down ale."

He grins cheekily as the barkeep considers protesting briefly, before deciding against it.

"And for the lady?"

[Leah]

Bella shrugs. "I don't think that there's any reason to forget ones manners. Especially in battle. Especially in the 'real world'. But then, perhaps that is why you're the Head or Order and I'm a Squire." She smiles.

"Watered-down ale, hm, nice choice. I'll have a cup of tea, if that's alright. Milk, no sugar, please." She nods to the barkeep as he turns to gather their drinks.

"I've been travelling for some time to come and meet you. I've been training down in Midvale since the accident, apparently they have some of the best physicians - mostly Rolborian - and as you're aware, there hasn't been a working Keep in Clydesdale for some time. It was good to get away and travel, recover and train with different Knights. But I thought I should come home to see you and ask you in person if you would mind being my Liege Knight? It seemed fitting."

"The Order seems to have taken quite a hit lately, though I believe there are at least three new squires adventuring around Midvale, which is good to see."

[nick]

Leoric smirks. "Don't underestimate yourself, Miss Lockhart, if I'd have taken that beating instead of you, we might have been sat at opposite ends of this table right now. I've every bit of faith you'll fight your way through Errancy in no time."

Turns to the approaching barman, who carries the drinks. He takes the tankard, and hands the man a couple of copper coins. After taking a drink.

"As to the ale, it's all watered down here. In any case, yes, the Order has had many of our number fall in battle in the recent year, so we're always looking for more to join the adventuring community, especially this far north. I'm glad you're back, and will gladly take you as a squire. I had a squire for a time, however he has gone absent for quite some time. Had a penchant for ladies of questionable virtue, and questionable gender, by his own admission. A strange boy indeed."

[Leah]

Bella's eyebrows rise. "Oh, that sounds... Difficult. Perhaps he will show up again."

"I was not underestimating myself, but I have to make it through squiring first before I can approach Errantcy. It is a very exciting time."

As the barkeep approaches with the drinks, Bella stands briefly and thanks him.

"Thank you for the drinks," Bella smiles to Leoric, taking her tea and pouring the little jug of milk into the cup. "You seriously cannot get a good cup of tea during training. Apparently lumpy tea is the standard..." She rolls her eyes. "Now that I'm back I will have to go and see my parents again for the first time in, well, a long time. Do you often visit your family? "

[nick]

Leoric stares off briefly, thinking of home.

"I visited for a time, lived at my family home for a time as a House Knight, but it is a long journey, including a ferry trip, on horseback to any hiring square from my family lands. I am considering finding funding for a keep here in Clydesdale but, it will have to wait. I travel to Norham for a number of months soon, to be closer to the Knight Commander and to get an Ithronian perspective on the coming war."

He takes a few sips of his ale, careful not to drop any on his beard in the presence of a lady.

"You've heard about that I presume, the war?"

[Leah]

Bella nods. "The one good thing about travelling to Midvale recently was being closer to what's been happening. I've heard a lot about it but I suppose if you wanted to give me any more details that wouldn't hurt. Tholon has shown themself to be our main enemy, with the Konn's aid yes? But the Konn aren't able to attack us until some treaty has expired later this year? What happened with the Tholonian ambassador at the King's Festival? There have been so many conflicting stories..."

"It is a shame that you are leaving before I am able to come on a mission alongside you. But perhaps I will manage to make it down to one of the hirings there sometime."

[nick]

Leoric takes a deep breath, then speaks in a hushed tone.

"The Tholonese ambassador was some sort of demonic creature with wings and almost reptilian features as far as I could make out. Or, atleast, that was what was guarding the ambassador. I didn't get close enough to ask. We were told anything touching the demonic creature would be instantly transported to Sharda and, frankly, no one wanted that."

Leoric sits back for a moment, thinking, taking a sip from his ale, before leaning back in.

"From what I understand, the official reason for this war is our King's marriage choice. The Tholonese are surprised by our King's choice not to marry some necromantic witch or somesuch. I'm less convinced, I think this has been on the cards for a lot longer, The Konn and the Tholonese are not, in my opinion, allied necessarily with one another, but with Sharda, or some creature of it. But, that's just a poorly educated guess."

[Leah]

Belladonna sips at her tea as Leoric talks, then raises her eyebrows and places the cup down on the little cracked saucer. "I could only imagine what would have happened if the King had married the Tholonese lady, if this is what is happening due to her being rejected. If she had control from within Ithron too... And was bound to the land as the King and Queen are..." She shudders.

Pausing to take another sip of tea, she sits back in her chair and frowns. "If the Tholonese Ambassador was being escorted by demons that could what, transport everyone to Sharda? Then I am not surprised that he lived through the meeting, though it is unfortunate."

"I am planning to travel down to Midvale soon. Though I will return here as soon as possible afterwards. There is someone in Midvale I have to see, but I think that with you gone and Lirron being so close to Llaminusia and Tholon that I should return and try and aid the protection of Lirron..." She pauses. "Wait... What happened with Llaminusia in all of this? Last I heard we were at war and now, Tholon is the enemy?"

[nick]

Leoric takes a deep breath and exhales, preparing to explain over the top of his ale tankard.

"Lluminusia's Prince was under some form of magical puppetry that caused him to, amongst other things, turn his people against Ithron. With the puppetry removed, he is now apparently our ally. Current odds are the Tholonese were behind it, given they have, as I understand, already set in motion an invasion of Lluminisia. In short, they are our buffer-zone between Tholon and Ithron. Lirron is next and from what little snippets of information I've gathered, the place is already heavily corrupted. I've seen notices involving people of faith experiencing discomfort on approaching the land. This may or may not be down to the destruction of their Jotun Lord but, frankly, I've had enough talk of him to last me from now until the final judgement so, let's leave that there."

Clearly slightly agitated, takes a considerably deeper drink from his tankard, places it back on the table and proceeds to drum his fingers on the rim as he speaks.

"All that remains for us is to shore up defences at home, and make sure they won't be roving the lands destroying and corrupting Lirron. Let's just say, I'm sure there'll be plenty opportunities for quite testing honour kills for you in the months to come.

[Leah]

Belladonna places her empty cup back down on the saucer when Leoric is finished talking.

"That is very sad news about Llaminusia. To have lost what they have... Tholon will have to answer for their crimes sooner or later. Whether in this life of the next." She pauses thoughtfully. "Or both. Both is good."

"The Llaminusians are a veritable fighting force though, even with only those who are left in Ithron. With the rest of the Empire beside us - traditionalist Axirians excepted, I imagine - Tholon and the Konn will have a bloody war that they will eventually lose. I cannot believe that they would do any of this over some slighted honour of our King refusing to marry a Tholonese Lady."

"What do you know of the Konn? I'm aware that the Konn in general is a horrendous gap in my knowledge. I know where they are, roughly, and that they are heavily involved with demons. But I'm afraid that is all."

[nick]

Leoric nods grimly, taking a moment to stroke his beard clear of wayward droplets of ale.

"Your education on the matter is similar to mine. The Konn are not my speciality, nor are demons. I do know the authority on the Konn are probably the Templars, given the particulars of their oath, so I would imagine the Knight Commander would be wise to call some sort of meeting between all the Heads of Order to share information on what we face. Our role at home now in the Black Order is to make ready to defend our shores and destroy any abominations that threaten Ithron. Shardan, Undead, or otherwise. We'll give them a war, of that there will be no doubt."

He takes another deep drink from his tankard. Trying to inject a little levity into his attitude he allows a subtle smile.

"So, tell me, how has the last year or so treated you? You must have a handful of interesting stories from during or following your recovery."

[Leah]

She nods. "Perhaps sharing knowledge on the Konn, Tholon and Sharda - as they seem to be our main enemies at the moment - would be beneficial. I certainly would rather know what we will be facing."

"Me? Well, down near Chennet in the middle of Ithron was rather nice. I've been there for most of the year. It was equal parts of ferocious training and tea parties," she laughs, "Which I suppose is my idea of perfection."

"I owe a debt to a Rolborian for the help she gave me. I would very much like to go back and thank her in person. I think I will travel within the next few days."

[nick]

"I suppose I can see what can be arranged when I visit the Knight Commander in Norham in the coming weeks. All of the Orders, Guilds, and indeed the whole country will need to be aware of what we face in some capacity."

Leoric takes another drink, allowing for a pause.

"I have ventured south on occasion through Ithron and participated in one or two hirings down there in my time. It's unfortunate we never bumped into one another before now. Still, I doubt I would have enjoyed the tea parties as much as you."

Pauses again for a moment, recalling.

"Actually, I had a brief chat with the traitorous Primate of Rolbor not long before he commited his betrayal during the mission to I think it could have been Serumma or Rumm or somewhere, where he handed his adventuring party over to the Traditionalists, and tried to trick more of us into going for a rescue. I don't know how the situation was resolved, but I hope the Church Of Rolbor fares better in future on that account. A traitor with a primacy is a dangerous agent of the enemy indeed."