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Raullaur It is a cooler day in Great Forks, which makes it a marvelous day for soldiers to be out and training. There is one compound--barracks, courtyard, and other buildings--that has niose coming from it--not just roars, but barbarian speech mixed with the Rivertongue. Close enough, well, it's obvious that there is a group training to fight in formation with spears, another group practicing with slings and the like, and there are various smells of food, fire, oil, and steel. Fairly normal, except...all are lionmen.

There is one obviously watching over all, standing taller than the rest, and dressed simply in linen and leather shirt, vest, and pants, tail flicking idly behind him, and now and again talking to one of the others next to him, who then runs off to to one of the lower-level overseers who then corrects something. And apparently security is maintained even here, as there are scouts watching the passers-by. Not interfering, but bringing news of any who seem to be coming to Raullaur himself.

Caeleen Selena The Lunar Exalted are masters of stealth and infiltration. Shapeshifters extraordinaire and cunning beyond measure. And yet, following up on rumors and noises and roars, Selena isn't really channeling too much of any of that. Just following her ears through the (military) parade grounds, staying to the fringes and moseying about unobtrusively... well, oddly that seems to be enough to avoid anyone paying a lick of attention to her, everyone else has better things to do, right?

This eventually leads to her getting a perfect angle to spy on the goings-on, body three quarters hidden behind a building she's leaning out from at an angle, eyes wide with childish and open-minded curiosity that isn't afraid WHATSOEVER of the rumors about fearsome barbarian lion-men.

After a good ten seconds of that, she ducks back behind the short barracks-building and climbs up onto the roof... where she promptly seats herself in a relaxed posture, though her eyes dart around the entire goings-on and frequently lock onto the commander...

She's hard to miss. One simply has to look... up.

Raullaur The savannahs are a fine place to live, and to hunt, and grassland is not necessarily conducive to looking up as generally there are simply birds in the sky. But the practice of war is a harsh mistress, and so even as he watches the training, Raul looks around himself, to the sides, behind, and even up! And so the maned head looks up, and then he blinks and calls out, in a deep, rich voice--a resonant bass that carries the rumbling purr of a large feline, in all its allure...and predatory aura both. "Who's up there! Come here!" No anger, but the solidity of command, of expecting instant obedience.

The drills change immediately, with the formation fighters immediately getting to a square with spears that poke out in all directions while the slingers go to a knee and ready a stone. Some watch the direction Raul indicates, but the reast keep watch over all the directions--just in case.

Caeleen Selena Selena springs to her feet smoothly at the call, though the motion lacks the swift and stiff panic of anyone caught in the midst of mischief. Still she pauses and blinks for just a moment, perhaps surprised herself at how swiftly she responded. An appraising "hmmmhmm!" hummed in her throat is swallowed by the wind, unfortunately...

With a smooth and easy stride across the roof she nears the platform Raul is directing from, then steps off. The entire motion is fluid like a river rolling downhill with little wasted motion or discomfort. It leaves her a good fifteen feet from him, leaning forward on her tiptoes with a playful spring and hands folded behind her back. "Fifteen breaths to spot me. Not bad at all..."

Raullaur One of the others starts to bristle, but Raul holds his hand up, and he immdiately steps back. "Well, you came to have a look, and certainly got my attention..." He tilts his head and ears flick in his mane. "Who are you, though? You don't look like one of the usual croud who is curious. What brings you here?" Nostrils flare slightly, "You probably already know that this is the Lions' Pride, and I'm their chief, Raullaur."
Caeleen Selena "Well... one would hope not. There's not a girl in Creation who'd want to be considered 'usual'." The redhead in the kimono quips back, before resuming her aproach, another few steps. "Curiosity, of course. Even in Great Forks, men who are kin with beasts don't grow on trees. My name is Selena. I wonder what brings a clan like yours so far into the settled lands to live amongst city-folk like us? Only someone truly mighty, or profoundly foolish, would make a lifestyle change like that so boldly."
Raullaur Raullaur hmmms. "It is a long story," Raullaur says, and shifts his stance slightly. And even the small motions are smooth, graceful. Simple. Exactly what they need to be and no more. Nothing wasted. "It is good to greet you, Selena. And we come from the savannahs wild and south of here, but there were those who thought that because we are unlettered that we are simple and easily caught. When I returned to my tribe seeing most taken, well...I rallied those left and we pursued them, eventually killing the slavers and freeing my people. Since this Guild can reach us even in the Savannahs, we must know more, and gain power to protect ourselves--I must gain power to protect my people."
Caeleen Selena That explanation results in Selena raising her brows in surprised thought. "Slavers..." The word is echoed carefully, given the same irked tone as one trying to work out how to best step around dung left in the road.

"Seeking power, though? There's plenty of that to be found in this city... especially in this role. Word on the street is that there's trouble brewing in the neighboring Shadowland... the current leadership's unstable and dangerous powers are always clawing for control there."

Raullaur Raullaur nods. "This is true. For now, I am working on training the army to...something better than it is now. But it will take time, and they don't have the manpower they need...at least not loyal to them. And the better we get, the more it'll cost them to keep us loyal." He chuckles, "So things will be intersting in times ahead." Golden eyes gleam as he leans slightly closer, "And what of you? Curiosity...but it's rare enough for a lady to be as bold as you coming to meet us. What is /your/ desire, then? And do you need to hire us to help get it?"
Caeleen Selena "All good things take time. If it didn't... well, miracles do happen often in Great Forks, can't rule them out." Selena remarks, only to blink a few times at the more intense gaze. She makes a point of starting a slow walk around Raullaur so he can get a good look at different angles... forcing him to turn and focus if he wants to do so. Of course, the way she's maintaining eye contact while glancing sideways might just pull at the hearstrings a bit...
Raullaur Raullaur watches, nostrils flared slightly, ears perked, focusing on her sight, sound, and scent all. Tail flicking more as he slowly turns to watch her and gives a feline grin. "You never did answer the question, though," he says, sounding half-amused at least.
Caeleen Selena "There might come a time when I need your services, since you mention it. On the day I finish an ongoing investigation, that is." She darts in quickly to poke Raullaur with a single dainty fingertip. On any exposed flesh like an arm or his chest if he's not wearing armored. Or just poke him on the chestplate if he is armored too much... "Might need a mortician or two, too." She murmurs next, and for a very brief moment her cheerful gaze flashes with a much darker emotion. Or... or was that just a trick of the light?
Raullaur Raullaur is just wearing simple linen shirt with leather pants, so it's easy to find a soft place. His fur is lush and sleek, quite warm as well. No armor, not even the sword rumor has had him credited with. He rumbles and reaches out quickly to try to return the poke, tyring to get just below her neck, a single claw to barely touch, and hs is far faster than he ought to be, almost like a cheetah, or striking heron. "If you'll need me then, I'll need a full account, the story of what you are investigating, and what you desire done."
Caeleen Selena A sharp inhale of breath and the briefest pause in her step occurs when that claw moves with such speed. That she doesn't instantly flinch away or panic in some fashion is probably remarkable. "Unfortunately I have yet to find any great clues. Some dishonest men attacked some travelers a while back. One would think them simply bandits, but they didn't move like bandits. They were too fit and well-fed for bandits. Still, it's been a few seasons. The trail has gone cold. I'm waiting for them to strike again..."
Raullaur "Interesting...I have heard tell of bandits nearby...but the letter that was sent to me was obviously lying about...several things. On the other hand, I have found a number of people at a ruin a few days away, practicing a number of different styles of combat. Perhaps it is the same group?"
Caeleen Selena "Were I to see them, maybe they could be identified... but I don't know. It's the best lead I have right now though." She grins at him, and leans in with another poke to the shoulder. "You wouldn't mind sharing just WHERE this purported ruin is, would you?"
Raullaur Raullaur chuckles. "I can take you there some time. Just be careful...there are enough people there that I wouldn't want to go by myself, and even my band might have a time defeating them." He takes his paw away from where the claws was poking her to grab her wrist. No claws, grip strong, and the leathery padding of the paw warm against skin. "I am pretty sure that someone is trying to play politics and get me to weaken my band and get in a fight, and make things worse for the city...somehow."
Caeleen Selena The sudden grab brings with it a few surprised blinks, and her gaze going straight to lock onto his. Quite obviously she's wondering where he's going with this one. She does take a half step closer. "Even your band, the one I have heard so much about? Just what sort of men lurk in that place? Hrm. If they're truly out to undermine efforts to strengthen Great Forks, they shouldn't have any complaints if others did likewise to them, I suppose."

"Well. Your band would have better luck if /some ill fortune/ were to rummage through their camp, and none discovering the misfortune until it is too late..."

Raullaur Raullaur shakes is head. "I think there's someone /in the city/ who sent us to fight those 'bandits'. NOt sure they're really bandits, and fighting them might cause trouble for Greath Forks, so trying to figure out who and what they really are, still."
Caeleen Selena "Ah... well then, you've found a willing scout. I have my ways of skulking around unseen." She quietly claims. "You saw me because I /wanted/ you to see me. Given reason, I can flit about unmolested, like a songbird in the tree."
Raullaur "Selena...it is kind of you to offer, but I don't know you--yet." He rumbles, rather amused. "In order to trust you like this, well...I don't doubt your skil, but I need to know I can trust /you/. I hope you are not offended. I would not expect others to trust me without knowing me--or my reputation."
Caeleen Selena That sudden declaration brings a wry little smile to the girl's lips. Like, of course she knew this was coming. "Not offended, no... of course, I don't much look the part, do I? Have you a challenge for me then?"
Raullaur Raullaur shakes his head. "A challenge to get me to trust you more?" He chuckles slightly. "Tell me more of yourself. Perhaps over a meal and wine. I need to know /you/. Not just what you can do." Raullaur rumbles again, eyes glinting with amusement.
Caeleen Selena "Over a private meal then it'll have to be." Selena relents with a huff, hands moving to her hips. "I'm not of a mind to let this matter go. Well, you had better come ready for surprises."
Raullaur Raullaur chuckles, "And don't worry. I do this with /anyone/ I'm going to be working with. You get to know someone well there. Sparring can show skill, but it's the time spent that really lets you know someone. If you don't want to have it here, well, I know of some places in the city which are good."
Caeleen Selena "If you REALLY want to get to know me, then you should prioritize privacy and discretion." Selena insists. Exactly... how one is to interpret that could be anyone's guess, but she's making no attempt whatsoever to clarify...
Raullaur Raullaur nods. "I know where to go then." He rumblepurrs again, and flicks his tail. "When will be good? A day or so from now?"
Caeleen Selena Selena returns the nod and turns away to leave with a faint but potent smile.
Caeleen Selena And, as she walks away, Raullar will notice something very strange. Her shadow sports a bushy tail swishing this way and that to match her steps...