Cirroch is standing near the bar greeting various people as they come to meet him. "Hello," he says with a deep, room-filling voice. "Thank you for coming. I'm Cirroch of Giant's Reach. Have a drink on me," he adds.

Elegance arrives, following Daemon.

Cambria enters into the Traders Tavern, threading through those that were filtering in. She makes her way towards Cirroch, offering the north man a pleasant smile. "Marquis Sanna," she greets. "It is delightful to make your acquaintance. I am Marquessa Cambria Mazetti." Pausing, she glances around, then returns her attention to Cirroch. "Are you newly arrived to Arx?"

Boots, Chip, a small mouse arrive, following Valery.

Carissa, a Malvici bodyguard arrives, following Eirene.

Valery has rolled a critical success!
Valery checked dexterity + stealth at difficulty 15, rolling 53 higher.

"It is a pleasure, Marquessa," Cirroch says bowing his mahogany head to her. "I have been to Arx before but I am recently returned from my mountain fortress. It is so much warmer down here," he says with a laugh.

Striding inside with the drum-beat of steel boots at his wake, Sir Daemon arrives with the greyhound Elegance at his heels. He removes his helm and gives his head a shake to untangle his platinum locks of hair, his eyes set toward the bar at a familiar face and a stranger. "Good afternoon my Lord and Marquessa!" He greets, bowing deeply to the pair in respectful manner. "Lovely to see you again, Marquessa, and lovely to make your acquaintance, my Lord."

"Good afternoon," Cirroch says toward Daemon. "I am Marquis Cirroch Sanna of Giant's Reach. Get comfortable and enjoy a drink on me," he says with a deep, booming voice and a gesture toward the back of the bar.

"Then welcome back," Cambria says to Cirroch cheerily. "Ah," she exclaims, waving Daemon forward. "Allow me to introduce to you my protege, Sir Daemon Dracone. A fine knight of the Oathlands, very fine, if I do say so myself." She then places an order for wine with a server.

Valery arrives being quiet as the mice she carries in a basket. Even her anklets seem to be quiet today. She tries to be unseen until she reaches the table where Cirroch is at, and she slides a bottle to him. "I finished it..." She whispers.

Eirene strides in, black leather and crimson steelsilk and blade at her side. The Malvici's medical side is clear with the pouch with Lagoma's flame on her belt opposite the sword. She sports braids of black and white hair pinned up in utilitarian fashion. "I heard free drinks," the Lycene woman drawls in a husky voice, grinning. Familiar faces are met with a lift of the chin in hello.

Cambria leans aside to Daemon, murmuring something while grinning.

Cirroch seems caught off-guard by the quiet girl, Valery, as she suddenly appears near his table. "Oh, Valery," he says with a smile. He picks up the bottle slide toward him and looks it over. "This is perfect," he says after opening the bottle and giving it a smell. "Thank you, love. Enjoy a drink on me, my friend," he says as he tucks the bottle into his belt. He looks toward Daemon, then. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintence, Sir Daemon. I am always happy to meet a knight from the Oathlands. You know you can trust that sort." He looks toward Eirene as she enters and smiles to her. "Welcome," he says. "I'm Marquis Cirroch Sanna of Giant's Reach, newly returned to Arx. Come and get comfortable and enjoy a drink on me."

"As a fellow who's also recently returned to Arx, allow me to welcome you to this fine city." Daemon muses to Cirroch when his patron beckons him forward. "I hope you find your stay enjoyable, my Lord. It's a bit odd at first, but one adjusts quickly with so many friendly faces about!" He makes a wide gesture to the rest of the room as he begins to settle into the bar. He doesn't order anything alcoholic, perish the thought! Instead awaiting a glass of cold cider, raising a brow to Cambria as he lowers his voice as well.

Valery looks around with a light blush. She hesitates. "I don't want to be a bother..."

"Eirene Malvici- and give me a moment here..." the lanky woman pauses and recites "Voice of Malvici, Brigadier General of the Phoenix, Guildmaster of the Physician's Guild, and Minister of Health." She grimaces. "I think that's the lot. Eirene is fine tough." She orders a double whiskey to make up for the Oathlanded abstinence and raises it in toast. "Welcome back to Arx."

"Thank you, Sir Daemon," Cirroch says with a bow of his head. "I've already found that to be true," he adds before looking over to his new quiet friend Valery and gives her a reassuring look. "Nonsense, Valery. You are no bother." He looks toward those gathered and gestures to Valery, "This is Valery, friends. She is a skilled perfumer and gardener. Her gardens are lovely and smells exquisite." He then gives Eirene's lengthy introduction a polite chuckle. "It is a pleasure, Eirene. Thank you for your welcome. I simply had to come back in case there's any action on its way for my axe. The threats in the Gray Forest certainly give one pause."

Cambria, now with wine in hand, idly watches the interplay between Valery and Cirroch as she finishes her low conversation with Daemon, ending it with a shake of her head. "I have purchased from Mistress Valery in the past. Her work is superb, and I trust her gardens are a thing of wonder as well."

Valery blushes deeper now, and murmurs. "Thank you..." She nods, politely, to the group, and she eventually takes a seat, staying a pinch further from the table that she should, maybe. She keeps her basket on her lap, her hands on it in a protective way.

Eirene nods in confirmation of Valery. "She's a Guild accepted Herbalist, so she's vouched for." Her whiskey tips to the shy woman. "Grey forest is full of demons and tainted shardlings- corrupted animals or people. It's dangerous at best and deadly at worst."

"Indeed. I hope to help quell the threat," Cirroch says bowing his head to Eirene. "As the Minister of Health, do you think the corrupted life can be cleansed?" he asks as he raises his brow and finally takes a sip of his whiskey.

Daemon turns to greet those newly arriving as well, mug of cider now in hand as he sat beside his patron. "Ah, and Lady Eirene! Famed for stitching up half of the Compact!" Including that very same mark on the knight's face that would be lasting a lifetime. Between sips he's chuckling as he continues speaking quietly to the Marquessa beside him.

Cambria greets Eirene as well, offering a slight incline of her chin as she says, "Minister." Her blue eyes then return to Valery and Cirroch, briefly appraising the former before settling on the latter, as though contemplating his question herself before finally looking back to Eirene. As she awaits a response, she grins at something said by Daemon, then offers a hasty reply.

Valery smiles lightly to Eirene, still blushing. She gets a drink too, just a tea for the apothecary. She holds it with both hands, as warming them up despite the warm day, and still being careful with the basket.

Eirene offers "Marquessa," shortly back to Cambria. Then she goes back to the more interesting topic. Daemon is given a brief look with eyebrows raised before she looks back to Cirroch. "That's... more a question for a priest than a doctor. The Abyssal taint is more affecting the soul and then the body. I can make sure a wound doesn't fester over, but the advanced cases it's kinder to just kill them than anything else."

"Ah, yes," Cirroch says with his head lowered with a small frown. "That is a kindness I've seen extended more times than I care to have," he says in a somber voice. "I wonder if the shamanistic rituals of the north could help cleanse the taint. Either way, this is a ominous time. I pray for those most effected hear in the Crownlands."

6 Crimson Blades Sergeant arrives, following Tobias.

"If it is a priest you'd like to seek out," Cambria offers Cirroch. "Might I suggest writing to the Legate of Concepts, Orazio? Undoubtedly he is a busy man, but he is also wise and learned, and caring. I am certain he would be happy to enlighten you regarding such matters, or at the very least point you towards someone within the Faith who has more knowledge concerning the situation in the Grey Forest than he." The group within the tavern is standing around the bar, some with drinks in hand. There is a discussion going on, and from the sounds of it, it pertains to the Grey Forest.

Valery is holding her drink with both hands and she keeps her basket on her lap. She doesn't seem to be adding much (or anything at all) at the conversation at hand, but she's listening curious at it.

"The situation in the Gray Forest is that a thing of the Abyss is using House Redrain as a symbol of 'everything wrong with the Compact' and turning animals, Abandoned, and everything in between into monstrosities in a bid to accomplish something only it knows." Tobias says out loud as he steps inside the tavern, clad on his Crimson Blade tunic. Six chainmailed bodyguards in Blade tabards stride in behind him and take up a table as the mercenary general himself heads for the bar. "And they're trying to figure out where he went after his initial encounter with the shield wall, and are instead fighting things out of nightmares."

"Pardon me a moment," Cambria says to the group, and steps away.

Eirene sips her whiskey and shrugs. "Wants to remove individuality. Choice. Thought." She offers, "Its the Slaver's herald we have Gaiman us." She nods towards Tobias.

"I may just do that, Marquessa," Cirroch says regarding Cambria. His voice is deep and room-filling. He takes another sip of his whiskey. "I am curious about the Faith. We have our own beliefs and customs up in the mountains." The dark-skinned northern lord regards Tobias and gives him a nod. "Welcome. I am Marquis Cirroch Sanna of Giant's Reach. You and your men, make yourself comfortable and enjoy a drink on me. Now, what is this about House Redrain? I'm newly returned to Arx."

Daemon shudders inwardly for a moment. "Bloody wasps..." He murmurs under his breath, sipping at his cider.

"Tobias Telmar, Lord General of the Crimson Blades, and the black sheep of the Telmar family, depending on who you ask." Tobias replies to Cirroch as he sits. "I was guarding supply caravans with Iron Company when the wasps hit, but I'm not surprised in the least something out of nightmare descended on the Compact lines. It's a very good thing I wear form fitted plate armor." Tobias notes as he orders some wine.

Eirene says, "Leather at least kept some of it out." She rolls her blue eyes and takes a long drink. "I knew he'd pull some stupid trick but turning an army into wasps? Being a wasp? So insane. But- sanity gets stretched living here," she says vaguely."

"A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lord General," Cirroch says bowing his head and raising his glass to Tobias. "What does this threat have to do with House Redrain, though?" he repeats his question as he raises his brow. "Do you know, Valery?" he asks back to his quiet northern friend with her tea.

Valery looks at Cirroch and shakes her head. "No, I don't know much about it, to be honest... I've not been involved on anything like this... just... just that they needed some weapons and Master Tarik went to look for them... I went with him and we needed a boat..." She wrinkles her nose and almost winces. Bad memories there. She looks at the others as they talk about wasps, frowning.

"He's claiming that Redrain is responsible for the poison over magic. I have no idea if that's true or not, but the Abandoned who have sworn to him certainly do." Tobias notes, before he sips his wine. "I imagine the Inquisition would have something to say about it, if it were."

Eirene frowns curiously at the Crimson. "Where'd you hear that from? I wasn't aware of that, I thought it was all mage related ancient bullshit and him being a traitor." -

Cambria returns, hearing that last bit from Tobias and glancing towards Cirroch curiously. She resumes her station beside Daemon, and leans in to, it would seem, ask him a question.

Cirroch furrows his brow and frowns before saying, "That's concerning. I certainly hope that is untrue. Lord General, you seem to be involved in all this. In what capacity is that? What sort of outfit is the Crimson Blades?"

Daemon raises his hand slowly. "I'd heard much the same. When I encountered his... monsters near Farhaven, one of them could speak our tongue. He was very vehement about Arvum and the Compact's desire to eradicate their history and way of life." His face turns a tad somber recounting the tale. "We hoped for a peaceful resolution, but some are fanatical beyond their redemption."

Cambria listens intently, sipping from her wine.

"I'm the general of a mercenary organization. We were hired by House Grayson to help reinforce the army during the initial attack, though they declined to hire us for the follow up scouting parties." Siiiip. "The Crimson Blades are a high quality, well trained army of mercenaries. We work all over the Compact by contract. You can reference Malesh Stonewood of House Stonewood for our current major contract, if it pleases you, My Lord.... and I have others from previous contracts as well." Tobias gives in reply to Cirroch, before he looks to Eirene, "I'd suggest you ask them yourself. I don't know why they think Redrain is responsible... but that's the reason the Horned One is using to recruit his army."

Valery blinks and looks at the others, her eyes wide open.

Carissa, a Malvici bodyguard have been dismissed.

"Maybe --," Cirroch says after thinking for a moment. "Maybe it's connected with the blood magic cults common to the northern shav tribes. That's the closest thing to the 'Abyssal' influence in the north that I can think of. House Redrain certainly has a hand in trying to eradicate those."

Captain Reedy, a Telmarine military aide arrives, following Corban.

"I'm afraid some simply won't believe one over another, when one source gives them purpose." Daemon remarks back to Cirroch. "As terrible a purpose as the Horned one brings, he offered immediate power and an enemy to direct all of their anger against. Some can still be saved, but the twisted monsters I've had to put down... I'm afraid some will only be able to be met head on. It's a shame. A terrible thing. My heart aches for the North, but my sword is ready to assist."

Captain Reedy, a Telmarine military aide have been dismissed.

"And Redrain can certainly hire us on themselves if they'd like more high quality help in their task to go to war with the Horned One." Tobias notes before he takes a sip of wine. "With the way the Abandoned refuse to return to civilization and realize all too well they can't fight us themselves, they go to a source that can give them the power to direct their anger. Simple and effective. Seen it all too much while I was traveling."

Cambria continues to listen, her brows furrowed ever so slightly. There is, however, a look of approval for Daemon when he speaks up, though she has very little to offer to the conversation.

Valery eventually leaves her cup and she drags her basket closer, almost hugging it, as she listens to the others.

"This is more ominous talk than I expected for my social soiree," Cirroch says finally with a laugh. "I brought it on myself, though. I do believe I brought up the Gray Forest threats. I thank you all for coming and welcoming me to Arx. I look forward to seeing you all soon. The bar has a tab open for your drinks for the rest of the night so feel free to stay and enjoy that as my thanks. I must be going now, though. It was a pleasure meeting you all. Keep in touch." The northern Marquis finishes up his whiskey and makes his way toward the exit.