Board Thread:Roleplaying/@comment-5543592-20170504012353/@comment-5543592-20170506030332

“Stop! Who goes there?”   The bridge guard of Mercer Island called.

 “No threat to you, you need not bare your weapon.”   The man appearing from the fog replied.

 “Ov’course, govn’r.”   The guard agreed, lowering his rifle. The visitor came to a rest a few feet from the guard, as if expecting something, and when he realized he wouldn’t get a response, he spoke.

 “Perhaps I should meet with your superior?”   The newcomer suggested, leaning forwards slightly to catch the guard's attention. His cloak was brown and his mask gunmetal.

 “After me.”   The guard turned, leading Kheiro across the foggy bridge, to the concrete barricade.

 “Another one, eh?”   One of the guards asked, lounging in a foldout chair. “Lively today.”

 “Oh? Others have come across?” The Masked Man remarked innocently.

 “Aye.”   A second said, leaning against the barricade, tending to his weapon. “A group of eight, then one, and they all left together.”

 “Most intriguing.”   Kheiro noted, glanced out across the water, clasping his hands behind his back. The guards all traded looks, wondering about this strangely dressed, odd, masked man.

 The guard in the chair asked. “Something wrong with yer voice, mate? Or does that funny gag you got on do that?”

 “Yes.”   Kheiro answered. The guard opened his mouth, but then paused, confused by Kheiro’s response.

 “If you’re trying to get in, we need to take yer weapons, friend.”   A third guard said.

 “I’m unarmed.”

 The lounging guard snorted, thinking they were being made fun of now. “Unarmed my ass! What’s that cannon of a pistol you’ve got on your hip? Your belt buckle?”

 Kheiro glanced down at his weapon, then back at the soldier. “You don’t need to take it, do you?”

 The soldier shrugged, glancing away. “Eh, I suppose not.”   His comrades looked at him in surprise, not expecting that. Kheiro analyzed the dynamic for a moment, his rust-coloured eyes dissecting their behavior.

 “How about one of you fetches your officer?”   They both went without another thought.

<p class="MsoNormal"> The lounging Handsman frowned up at Kheiro again, trying to remember procedure, but he was seeming agitated by something. “What’s yer name? We ask everyone’s name.”

<p class="MsoNormal"> “I am called Kheiro. But you haven’t heard of me, have you?”

<p class="MsoNormal"> “No, not anymore.”   The Handsman replied suddenly, looking away again, going vacant.

<p class="MsoNormal"> “What’s this?”   A man with Sergeants stripes came out from the toll both. You want to get in? Well we have to disarm you first. "  He looked around at his men, who were standing by, all of them staring off into space.  " Why hasn’t anyone done that yet?”

<p class="MsoNormal"> “I’ll not be staying long. "  Kheiro interupted, getting the officer's attention again.  " I merely have a question for you, Sergeant…?”

<p class="MsoNormal"> “Pepper.”  He answered, and was suddenly wary. He was slowly raising the barrel of the rifle in his hands. Kheiro cocked his head. Had someone warned them about him?

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Who am I?" Kheiro asked, making Pepper pause.

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Kheiro, the Masked Man."

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Who told you about me?"

<p class="MsoNormal"> "Timothy Ashford."

<p class="MsoNormal"> “Put your weapon away, Sergeant Pepper."  Kheiro instructed.  He could see Pepper freeze in raising his rifle, arms quivering, and then slowly began to set the weapon aside.  "You needn't worry, Timothy is a friend of mine. I understand he and some of my other friedns came through here recently. I’m curious why and where they’ve gone. It’s not too difficult to sate my curiosity, is it?”

<p class="MsoNormal"> Kheiro could see the Sergeant's hesitation. Strong-willed, it had been a while since he'd encountered that. Kheiro tapped the side of his mask, turning down the dampening effect.

<p class="MsoNormal"> “Is it?”   He repeated. There wasn't any force to Kheiro's tone, only suggestion. He wasn't telling Pepper, merely reccommending.

<p class="MsoNormal"> “No.”   Pepper gave in, sounding a little out of breath. His whole body was shaking.

<p class="MsoNormal"> “Of course, it’s not.”   Kheiro chuckled like they’d both agreed on something extremely obvious. “Now tell me about my friends. Whatever you can; they’re very dear to me.”

<p class="MsoNormal"> Once Pepper told him all he could, down to the amount of dirt each Outsider had underneath their fingernails, Kheiro turned and left.

<p class="MsoNormal"> As the Masked Man vanished into the fog, the Sergeant pulled his helmet off his head to wipe away the copious amounts of blood bleeding from his noise.