Jeanne sits down at a table with a pile of books

[Leah]

Inside the Barras tavern Jeanne sits down and dumps her bag full of books on the table. There are some new texts and some old, along with her notebook and pen.

"A glass of water, s'il vous plait?" She asks the lady behind the bar.

The first book she opens is a relatively new text from the School of Necromancy on Tholonian undead. She scans through it, muttering to herself occasionally. When her water arrives she thanks the lady in Guiadonese and then, flustered, in Ithronian.

"The Shrouded Path. Shrouded path. Where would I find information on you...?" She asks herself. "If it is a new thing, perhaps there is no information to be found, but if not then perhaps the Church of Kharach? They use undead, after all... But necromancers are involved so perhaps talking to the Mages Guild would be preferrable..."

She opens another book and continues reading. 

[mcbale]

A shadow falls over the table, as another Knight steps up to the table.
"May I join you, my Lady?"

He sits down slowly, silently praying that the weight of his armor does not break the chair beneath him.

"Necromancy? A dangerous topic for some, may I ask why you are reading of such subject?"

[Leah]

Jeanne half-stands in courtesy as the Knight sits down beside her. "Of course, please feel free." She quickly closes over her notebook which is written all in Guiadonese and sits back in the chair.

"Well 'ow are we supposed to fight that which we don't know of?" She smiles, flipping the pages over a little. "Zese creatures of Tholon have been, apparently, found in Ithron. Surely it makes sense to know of them so that if we fight them our chances are greater of defeating them?"

"Take this one, for instance," she flips the pages again until she comes to one entitled, 'A Wight Demon'.

"This creature looks like a mummified rat man, and is a type of undead that requires a blessed or enchanted weapon to destroy it. That is fairly normal. 'Owever, these from Tholon require the blessed or enchanted weapon to be wielded by someone of faith. Were you on a battlefield without this knowledge it could slaughter a whole army of non-religious people before you were to realise.

"Zis is why I am reading of necromancy."

"My name is Jeanne," she smiles. "And you are?"

[mcbale]

"My apologies my Lady, I forget myself, Marcas McGowan, Vassal to Baron Marcas McGowan of Lirron"

"That is truly intriguing, I have heard rumors of such things coming out of the Grand Keep, but I had no idea that these creature were so widespread. I have personally had no experience of dealing with the undead, are there any particular undead I should look out for on my travels?"

As the bar keep approaches the table, Marcas turns saying to him, "Sorry my good man, I would like a pint of small beer if you please, I am traveling onto Dunlirron on the morrow, anything for you, Jeanne?"

[Leah]

"Pleased to meet you Marcas," She smiles.

"I have not yet seen any Tholonian witchery in Lirron, so per'aps we shall be spared it. One must hope. As for other undead I have not met a great deal myself in truth. Though there is an undead problem in Southern Clydesdale at the moment, near to the town of... Of..." She frowns. "Toad... Something about a toad... Ah, Puddock yes. Did you know that a puddock is a type of toad?"

"Anyway yes, they call themselves the Shrouded Path and I'm currently trying to do some research on them, to see whether or not I can find any clue as to where they may be based. They need to be destroyed quickly, I think. They've been burning farms, forcing people to kill each other to save their own lives. It is abominable."

"No, thank you. I have a glass of water already." She pauses, "Dunlirron you said? Is that in ze North? Perhaps I could come with you, there is a hiring, oui? I read of some murders or somezing up there?"

[mcbale]

"A type of toad you say? that is most intriguing. I am greatly saddened to hear that such a fate has befallen the people of this great land, there seems to be a lot of damage being done by groups of heretics and dissidents at this time, I myself accompanied a group into the Silver Catacombs to try and deal with a problem involving Githasians and missing shipment of metals."

"Yes there is to be a hiring two days hence, there has been talk of a murder of one the Baronets, but apparently they have already caught the person responsible. I have also heard talk of a witch of some form putting a farmers Wife into a coma using magic and mutilating cattle. I would appreciate the company Jeanne, for the road is a long and lonely place."

[Leah]

Jeanne frowns. "Heretics." She shakes her head. "'ave they been dealt with?"

"I have not been further North than Clydesdale so it would be nice to come wiz you. When do you leave?"

[mcbale]

"Those that we found were, but due to the size of the mines it is not possible to say whether all the Heretics were dealt with. I honestly doubt it, there will be more out there."

"I leave early on the morrow."

[Sue]

The door to the bar suddenly slams open. The polite stillness of the bar is suddenly shattered as the curvy figure of a woman makes an entrance. She swaggers to the bar like a slightly intoxicated man, and props herself against the bar in the most unladylike like fashion, for she is far from a lady.
She could be easily mistaken for a rogue or a thief in looks, although its clear from her abrupt entrance she is in fact neither.

She half jumps up on the bar, peering over looking for the bar keep who seems to have vanished.

She rattles her hand of the bar top to try and gather the attention of the barman, not that the slamming of the door didn't already do that.

"Oi! what's it take to get a drink round here?"

She looks around and sees the knight and what looks like a french maid. She half sniggers a bit before engaging them.

"Hey, alright?"

[Leah]

Jeanne leans closer to Marcas to be heard over the loud noises. "I'll be at the Cathedral at morning prayer if you're ready earlier for me to meet you."

On being approached by the lady at the bar, Jeanne half-stands again and nods her head. "Bonjour, my lady. Pleased to meet you. Is everything alright?"

[mcbale]

Marcas also stands, taking stock of the situation, "Hello there"

[Sue]

"alright? Yeah I will be once the barkeep gets his bum in gear, i'm gasping for some ale! Tell you something.... Hard work... er... actually, never mind!"
She shouts over the bar again.
"Oi, are you asleep, it's not Sunday service you know! I'm parched!"
The bar keep makes a cautious appearance and serves the rowdy... lady - used in the loosest of terms.
He fills a tankard with ale and exchanges the stranger for some coin.

She swaggers over to fancy lil maid and gives her a hearty smile. She realises now in heinsight, that although she has the face of an Guiadonese maid, she is not really dressed like one.

"Yeah! everything is just dandy now"

She takes a long gulping drink of her ale and grins.
She motions to the Guiadonese lady with her tankard and nods to the knight.

"The name's Seryn, yourselves?

[Leah]

"I am Jeanne, of the Order of the Temple. Perhaps you should sit down?" She doesn't say 'before you fall down...'

"And this is Marcas McGowan, a Feudal Vassal." She motions to Marcas and then sits down again, quickly pulling as many of her books back into a pil as she can, slipping her diary into her bag first. "Let me clear some space..."

[mcbale]

Standing to bow slightly:
"Marcas McGowan, Vassal to Baron Marcas McGowan snr, a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

[Sue]

She gives Marcas a cheeky wink, and proceeds to sit down. Giving them a proper look over she downs her ale and looks back and forth between the two before opening her mouth.

"Gosh, your a right stuffy looking pair. What you up to then? didn't think I'd find a book worm sitting in a bar!" She bellows out a hearty laugh.